Hearth or Heart

After her father dies, Effie Bowman and her eight sisters are left penniless, homeless, and alone. Salvation comes in the form of the new custodian of the estate, Mr Thornaby, but the more she learns of Mr Thornaby, the more she realises he needs her discretion as much as she needs his security. 

In her efforts to moderate the wild Mr Thornaby, she recruits the unlikely aid of Sir John Callander. 

Widower Sir John Callander is rich, powerful, and arrogant, but society mothers have long since given up hopes of his ever remarrying. 

As the season progresses, Effie is forced to wonder if she's attempting to tame the wrong gentleman.