A heart divided. A world undone.
Bessie Varley was raised in comfort as the daughter of the manager at Binston Pit. But when tragedy strikes, her privileged world crumbles, and Bessie is thrust into a life of hardship she never imagined.
In the soot-streaked streets of Binston, it's not wealth but warmth that sustains her-and none offers more than Finn, a steadfast companion whose quiet courage offers both comfort and challenge. As years pass and friendship deepens, a quiet love stirs between them. But the world around them is changing. The gap between rich and poor grows wider, and with it, the obstacles to their happiness.
In a time of heartbreak and hope, Bessie must decide if love is enough to defy the odds-or if the forces pulling them apart are stronger than the bond they share.
A tender Victorian romance of resilience, longing, and the love that endures when everything else is lost.