Markham's charity bride

Sophie, her mother helen and baby belinda begin a new life, when sophie and baby belinda move to harrogate, north yorkshire, to live with helen and her new husband george baxter. there sophie's life becomes one of dudgery, forced to work by george for a pittance for the family company. sophie, helen and belinda become pawns in george's scheming. george's plan is for sophie to marry a dissolute young man, harold frobisher. sophie however rejects the idea. sophie renews an acquaintance with the handsome entrepreneur, joel markham, who has commenced a take over bid for the family company. this gives sophie hope that she can at last break free from george's clutches. joel asks sophie to marry him. joyfully sophie accepts, but days before their wedding joel discovers a dark secret that sophie and her mother have been hiding since their arrival in harrogate. with joel's trust in sophie shattered, and sophie's hope of escape from baxter dashed, sophie knows she has to protect belinda whatever the cost.