James, fostered to a well to do family, is employed by them as a footman until he is thirteen, when he is enrolled into the Royal Navy of the 19th century.Against a background of prejudice and abuse he succeeds in gaining promotion. Charlotte, the daughter of the same family, is born into a life of privilege and wealth, where her future is assured.But life can be fraught with dilemmas and complications, full of twists and turns. James and Charlotte, conditioned by their experiences, are drawn together by indignant and tragic events out of their control.