1901. When The Earl of Stainton dies in a tragic hunting accident, Giles, the eldest son of the noble Tallant family, must step forward to replace him as the head of the family. But Giles has avoided the Castle and his stifling relatives for years, deciding instead to forge his own path away from the spotlight. Now, he must put aside his ambitions and honor his duty to the family. With their world upended, the Tallants and their servants struggle to find their place in the house--and society--once again. And Giles realizes that, along with the title and the castle, he's also inherited his father's significant financial troubles, which threaten the security of his entire family. In Kensington, Kitty Bayfield, the painfully shy but moneyed daughter of a Baronet, has just left school with her penniless companion Nina. Nina captures the new Earl's heart, but only Kitty can save his family from their debts, and soon Giles must choose between his duty and his heart.