1858 - When a wheel breaks on 20-year-old Betsy Palmer's trap as she is crossing the North York Moors on her way to Rosedale with jewellery to sell to the ironstone miners, she is helped by Jim Fenwick, a supervisor on the mining project, and a special relationship between them develops.
In Newcastle, love is also blossoming between Robert Addison, son of a successful merchant, and Adele Jordan when Robert discovers something scandalous that he fears will ruin many people's lives. He changes his identity and disappears, but the Addison family believe that Adele is the cause and blame her, which makes her determined to find Robert.
But all is not straightforward as relationships are further complicated when Betsy, whose relationship with Jim is now struggling, meets Robert and falls in love for the second time. As these lives become interwoven the story moves to an exciting climax before some unexpected and dramatic truths are revealed...