Episode list

1815, Brussels on the brink of conflict. Eighteen-year-old Sophia Trenchard secures her humble family invitations to the now legendary Duchess of Richmond's ball, on the eve of The Battle of Waterloo. She hopes for a secret assignation with her forbidden lover, the aristocratic Edmund Bellasis. As war dawns, the young pair are torn apart and Sophia is left to conceal a devastating secret from her family. Twenty six years later in the newly built luxury of London's Belgravia, a chance encounter between the two families reignites a long-buried connection. Sophia's parents, Anne and James Trenchard, find themselves in the social circle of Edmund's mother, Lady Caroline Brockenhurst. Long forgotten history now comes back to haunt the Trenchards. They must reconcile their guilt over secrets they have kept hidden for years, as they are faced with a revelation that may spell ruin for their family name.

Anne decides that honesty is required and hopes that seeking confession with Caroline will appease her guilt and lay to rest the ghosts from her past. Anne has sorely underestimated Lady Brockenhurst, who sets about to unearth the secrets that bind the families together. Hosting a prestigious dinner party she invites a special guest, whose presence reveals a deceit James Trenchard would wish to keep private. Caroline's attentiveness to the guest of honour grabs the attention of her brother-in-law, Stephen and nephew, John. Both men have a vested interest in the inheritance of the childless Brockenhursts and are not about to welcome a rival. It soon becomes clear to Anne, that the Countess plans to manipulate the situation to her advantage.

The depths of Stephen's problems are revealed, causing John to set his manipulative sights on Charles and Caroline as a way to make money; Susan isn't shy about exploiting the Trenchard's new social circle.

Tensions rise when Caroline organizes an outing for Lady Maria and Anne; Susan's indulgent behavior catches up with her; Ellis begins to show her true colors.

A jealous Oliver threatens to ruin the lives of many as he makes a shocking discovery about Charles. John's plans are jeopardized, making him dangerous; he enlists the help of the Trenchard staff to stoop to new lows.

Charles receives a mysterious olive branch, but the offer of reconciliation places him in grave danger. James must find a way to defend Charles' honor before Lady Maria is lost to him forever.