More than twenty years ago, a young American named Carolyn came to the Meredith family farm, marrying Robin Meredith and settling — never quite comfortably — into rural English life. Now Caro has died, leaving behind a husband who has long slept in a separate bedroom and an angry adopted daughter. But another young woman is about to arrive. Her name is Zoe, and unlike Caro, she finds something compelling in the Meredith's strenuous, earthbound lifestyle — and in Robin.