In the heart of Northumberland, the adults of the prominent Roylance and Jenkins families cherish the hope that their children will someday marry. But when the Jenkins family is exposed and Alexander’s parents are cast into debtors’ prison, the Roylances unceremoniously cut him out of their lives, forbidding their children from any association with him and abandoning the boy to a lonely life of destitution. Despite his dire circumstances, Alex is he will make it on his own. It’s been nine years since Charlotte Roylance has seen Alex Jenkins, but she hasn’t forgotten him. When he returns to town a self-made man seeking to renew his relationship with her family and unite with them in a shared business venture, she sees it as an opportunity to put to rest old grudges. Her older brother does not share her sentiments and forbids her from seeing their old friend again. But fate—and Charlotte’s heart—has other plans. As the two serendipitously meet time and again, the secret rekindling of their friendship soon evolves into deep connections—and feelings that are decidedly romantic. But Charlotte’s brother will do anything to keep them apart.