When Olive Collins is hastily despatched by her schoolmaster father to be a companion to Fiona Wainwright, a wealthy mill-owners daughter from Haliax, her potential and gift with figures is soon recognised, and on completing her education she is offered the position of bookkeeper, working alongside Fiona's brother, Robert. Realising she loves Robert, Olive is devastated at his plans to be married, and she decides to leave Yorkshire and take up the post of governess to three children from the musical Best family in Worcester. From the start Olive is attracted to the talented and charismatic musician Donald Best, and vulnerable and inexperienced she soon finds herself in the throes of an illicit, emotional affair. Best's wife, the temperamental and insecure prima donna Josephine Di Marco, is often away from home, and Olive's love for her employer deepens as with the passing years, and long periods of separation, his marriage crumbles. A family crisis brings Josephine back to England and once more into Donald's life, forcing Olive to make the heart breaking decision to leave him and return to Yorkshire. Olive resumes her friendship with Fiona and her family, but never gets over her feelings for Donald Best. His eldest child, Nigel, contacts her with an emotional letter from his father which changes Olive's outlook on life, and although she never sees Donald again, her love for him endures the passing of time. When on his death she receives the ultimate proof of his feelings for her, she finally knows true contentment.