1902. Spindrift House, CornwallEdith Fairchild, deserted by her feckless husband Benedict eight years before, has established the thriving Spindrift artists community by the sea and found deep and lasting love with Pascal. They have accepted that they cannot marry, but when Benedict returns unexpectedly to Spindrift House, all Edith and Pascals secret hopes and dreams of a joyous life together are overturned.