But later, through two world wars, it follows the main characters of Benjamin and Elizabeth, two young children brought up in very different circumstances. Benjamin is the son of a farrier at Gatcombe Manor, and Elizabeth is the heiress of Lord Simon Gatcombe. They become friends early on at the age of thirteen, then Benjamin and his family are let go of Gatcombe as it falls on hard times and Lord Simon gives the Rawlings a chance of a new life in Australia. They leave on a convict ship that is sunk in a hurricane off the east coast of Australia. Benjamin climbs back on board to try and help the prisoners escape but is captured as a convict and chained up.
Elizabeth gets a letter from her father when she is sent to Italy, away from Benjamin, as Lady Elanora Gatcombe does not want her daughter mixing with a farrier's son. The letter says Benjamin and his family have been killed in a ship wreck.
Elizabeth believes Benjamin to be dead, and he believes Elizabeth to have been married off and throughout their lives, they meet many new people and many adventures are bestowed on them. This is a story of love, friendship, hatred, and lost friendships.