Young Nicola Fletcher goes with Rowan Delaney to Ireland because her relatives decided so. Now he is her guardian and is responsible for the girl. Delaney, who runs his estate with an iron fist, is infatuated with the red-haired beauty Emer. And Nicola is considering an escape plan, because the mysterious Rowan has taken over all her thoughts - and she has nothing to do in a house where his eccentric wife will be in charge...