Society and Scandal

When Rowena and Neil Lindsay's mother tragically dies in a boating accident, her father – devastated by his wife's death – is unable to care for them. When their father's wealthy employer, Fergus Bain, and his wife, Sarah – a childless couple – take them in, Neil is happy to enjoy his newfound good fortune whilst strong-willed Rowena longs for their old life, misses their father and resists Sarah's attempts to spoil her. Wanting the best for Rowena, Fergus and Sarah dream of a society wedding for Rowena to a wealthy man.

When their father commits suicide rather than facing bankruptcy, sisters Annis and Olivia Kerr are left penniless. Annis marries their older neighbour, merchant Douglas Moncrieff, out of necessity so they both have a roof over their heads once more, albeit not a happy one. When Gideon Brenner, a handsome American shipmaster, arrives with Douglas's new clipper, eighteen-year-old Annis begins to wonder if her decision to marry a staid man thirteen years her senior was a wise one.

After tragically losing her husband at sea, Eppie Watt must support herself, her daughter Charlotte and mother-in-law and sets to work packing and selling herring in Portsoy Harbour. When her mother-in-law passes, poor Charlotte is sent home to be cared for by Eppie's family. Eppie is thrilled when offered a housekeeper position to Alexander Geddes, a wealthy widower, businessman and father to headstrong Duncan and cloistered Lydia. But Andrew's mother, old Mrs Geddes is set against Eppie and as her interfering intensifies Alexander is left with no choice but to ask his mother to leave.

After his wife's death, Hamilton Forsyth announces his intention to leave the Ayrshire town of Saltcoats, convinced his duties to his three grown children are complete. But scandal soon isolates the Forsyths from the community they once cherished. Matters worsen when Walter reveals his affair with Sarah, the family's housemaid—now pregnant—and insists on marrying her. Thrust into her new role, Sarah struggles, while Belle and Morna resent the upheaval. Encouraged by a former classmate, Morna becomes a teacher and is drawn into the suffragette movement—beginning to imagine a different future.