The novel is set in the summer of 1949, in the large country estate of Cavendon Hall in Yorkshire, England — the ancestral seat of the aristocratic Ingham family, and long‑served by the loyal‑to‑them Swann family.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Britain and its landed estates are under financial and social strain. The estate faces new threats: changing social mores, economic pressures, and generational shifts.

With the older generation moving aside and a younger generation taking over, the Inghams and Swanns find themselves caught in a web of secrets, betrayal, romance, and potential disaster. The question is whether the two families—once harmonious—can reconcile and save their shared legacy.

The estate is financially endangered: after the war, many estates in Britain struggled; Cavendon Hall too is “bleeding them dry” in the words of the narrative.

A key tension: the increasing commercialisation of the estate (opening gardens to the public, building cafés & galleries, running tours) which some family members support as a way to raise needed funds, and others oppose as a betrayal of tradition and family heritage. Example: Daphne leaves for Switzerland, declaring she “can’t live amongst the public milling around the house and gardens” — feeling the place has become too commercial.

The older generation (earlier Earls, estate managers) are stepping back, and younger generation members must step up — not only in managing the finances but also dealing with scandals: betrayals, secrets long buried, and even hints of murder and intrigue.

Hidden secrets from the past: in the first pages, Aunt Charlotte points out legal/estate documentation issues (e.g., who truly owns the properties, which have been informally treated as belonging to certain family members for decades, even though the deeds are different). These revelations could shift power and property.

The story explores the pull between home (Cavendon) and the modern world (London fashion, film, new business ventures). For the younger women, London may represent freedom and ambition, but Cavendon remains their roots.