Life has been cruel to Grace Collins...

Orphaned as a child, she is raised by her severely religious aunt, Emily. Starved of love, she falls for the first man who shows her affection, Barry Swan. And when Grace falls pregnant, Emily disowns her.

Barry and Grace marry and, for a while, she knows happiness. Barry adores her and is a wonderful father, but Grace feels that something is missing. When Barry indulges her passion for ballroom dancing, the gap seems to be filled - until she meets Philip Golding. He sweeps Grace off her feet, showing her what she believes is a better way of life. But as he draws her into a web of deceit, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold...