The Lake District, 1908. To all appearances, Livia, Ella and Maggie Angel lead a privileged life in a large country estate. But since the death of their mother, their bullying father Josiah Angel who runs a high-class department store, sees his daughters as bargaining tools in his empire. Spoiled Ella, is married off to a farmer, but Livia, the eldest, having found true love with a poor man, is not giving in to her father's wishes. The youngest sister, Maggie has her life blighted by her father's actions. On the discovery of a half-sister the girls search the local workhouse. But Mercy however is not sure she wants to be found.