Tally, Lord Brora, is heartbroken to discover that Amelia Melchester, whom he hoped to marry, has jilted him for Ernest Danks, a man likely to be the next Prime Minister. In a chance encounter, he meets young Jean Macloed, who is in the same unhappy situation as himself. Tally devises a scheme to bring Amelia and Jean's boyfriend, Angus, to their senses.

With the help of his friend Gerald, Tally transforms Jean from a penniless waif to society beauty and takes her to St. Moritz, with his mother acting as chaperone, in a bid to make the love of his life, Amelia, jealous and take him back. All is going to plan until a skiing accident makes Jean realise she no longer loves Angus. In despair she understands that her pretend love for Tally, is the real thing but his heart still belongs to the lovely, but selfish Amelia. She travels back to England to help some friends whose child is seriously ill and discovers a secret that could change the life of Tally's mother, Margert Melton, forever.

How Tally's plan unravels and how the revelations of the past come to the surface are told in this magnificently moving story of jealously, sadness and the power of love to heal all.