This captivating novel follows Constance and Sophia Baines from their youth in a provincial English town to their contrasting lives as adults—Constance managing the family drapery shop and Sophia eloping to Paris. Spanning decades, the story intricately weaves themes of love, ambition, and the inexorable passage of time. Bennett's rich character development and vivid settings provide a poignant exploration of the trials and triumphs of ordinary lives.