When Catherine Tedder&rsquo;s husband dies suddenly in September 1822, she is left alone with two small girls.<br /><br />Accepting the proposal of James Blay Jr. sees her trapped in a marriage of convenience - for him. Struggling with the vagaries of her wayward husband, Catherine and the girls are forced to adapt to his tyranny.<br /><br />After spending time in prison, James Blay Jr. appears to be a changed man: attentive, caring, supportive. But a tragedy changes everything.