Slung out from her home and onto the slum streets of Manchester at the tender age of twelve Perdita Barratt has fallen on hard times. Each day she must toil to earn a penny to secure a bed at a lodging house. But after a chance encounter with Silas Winkworth a widowed cart driver who is in search of someone to look after his household Perdy settles into the domestic routine of her new life and Winkworth Cottage becomes her safe haven. Yet this soon falls to the wayside when Honora Silas's estranged granddaughter appears on their doorstep. Unbeknownst to Silas who has welcomed Honora into his home with open arms Perdy must steel herself to rise above her incessant snide remarks and wicked taunts. . . But is there a darker motive than greed behind Honora's return to Collyhurst and how far will Perdy go to uncover the truth?
