Hull 1852. Matty has been the mother to her three younger sisters since their mother’s death ten years ago. To celebrate her 18th birthday their father takes all four sisters on holiday where two painters offer to immortalise their happiness forever. But their joy is short-lived a little while after they return home tragedy strikes: their father is hit by a horse whilst on his way to London and critically injured. The sisters have no way of knowing what has happened to him - only that he hasn't returned home. With little money of their own they’re now forced to battle life’s misfortunes alone.