Miss Martha Mary Crawford

Ever since her mother died, Martha Mary had had to take over the running of her home, a sprawling mansion called The Habitation. She did everything she could to make ends meet, but could not understand why they were in such financial straits - especially as when her mother was alive, they had several profitable businesses. She hoped that her father's frequent visits to Great-Uncle James would finally come good when he died, and they could sell his house to alleviate their great need of money.

But when her father died suddenly, his last words to her were to go to Great-Uncle James' house and deliver a message. That journey was to change Martha Mary's feelings for the men in her life and brought home to her the huge burden she now carried on her young shoulders. . .