The impoverished Balgowan estate on the east coast of Scotland is suffering from the restrictions forced upon it due to the interminable war with Napoleon. The beautiful Liddy Carpenter, and her sisters, are desperate for the few luxuries which women, in their position in society, deserve: primarily scented soap and fine clothes. Liddy, in her desperation, invents a daring scheme to smuggle goods into England from France. When her lifelong friend, and secret love, Keir, Lord Pittenmuir, joins the motley crew of smugglers in his guise of local servant, Liddy is unaware of his real identity and suspects he may be the spy who is filtering secrets to the French. Amidst the crumbling facade of the Balgowan estate and the sumptuous elegance of the Pittenmuir household, Liddy finds her emotions are in turmoil as she discovers just how far love and loyalty can be tested to the full...