The young Earl and Countess of Cardross love one another, but each believes the marriage matters less to the other. Nell hides mounting debts incurred while helping her reckless brother, while Giles interprets her secrecy as evidence that she values his fortune more than his affection.
Their misunderstanding deepens when Giles’s half-sister plans an elopement and Nell attempts to solve both crises without confiding in her husband. The novel uses money, gambling and family loyalty to examine how a marriage can be threatened by silence rather than lack of love.