The Civil War rages in England turning friend against friend, family against family. When her fiance Steven Swallow falls into disgrace Mistress Anne is taken to live with her Uncle at the Manor. Wrongly accused, Steven tries to persuade Anne to run away to France with him, but Anne refuses. It is up to the devious old housekeeper, Sarah Shopham, and the invalid war hero Michael Locket to make her change her mind.