In the 1830's in northern England, Riah Millican, a widow with three children, takes a job as housekeeper to a reclusive former teacher, Percival Miller. Miller makes Riah the gift of a black velvet gown, and even educates her children. But when Riah discovers the reason behind Miller's gifts, she vows to leave his house, but Miller has a hold on her, even after his death, when he leaves his house to her on the condition that she never marry. Riah's daughter, Biddy, grows up and becomes a laundress in a large house where her education keeps her from fitting in and makes her a target. But it also catches the eye of a son of the house, and with Miller's legacies, Biddy may yet find her way to happiness. 往事难忘。 故事发生在1834年的北英格兰，寡妇莉亚（珍妮·麦克蒂尔 Janet McTeer 饰）带着三个年幼的孩子艰难度日。女佣詹妮（Judith Parker 饰）发现了可怜的母子四人，于是将他们带回了主人米勒先生（鲍勃·佩克 Bob Peck 饰）的家中。善良的米勒先生收留了可怜的一家人，随着时间的推移，莉亚的坚强和善良打动了米勒先生，后者将自己珍藏的一件天鹅绒礼服送给了莉亚，以表达爱意。同样爱上了莉亚的，还有这里的车夫托尔（Brendan P. Healy 饰）。 米勒对莉亚的四个孩子视如己出，尤其喜欢年轻有为的长子大卫（大卫·奥利弗·科恩 David Oliver Cohen 饰），然而，大卫却在一场误会之中失手砍伤了米勒。
