After the death of the old Earl of Spenborough, he was left with a young widow - a young girl, Fanny, whom he married just before his death, and an equally young daughter, Serena. And now two former friends, who have become stepmother and stepdaughter, will have to arrange their own personal happiness and share the inheritance. But there is one more obstacle - at the request of her father, Serena is already engaged to the Marquis of Rotherham, whom she hates. How to break this engagement?