Mathilda Rainbird bequeaths her home to three relatives, Tessa who misses her dead parents and brother, but has learnt to live alone; Will a widow, who is drawn to Mathilda's housekeeper Isobel; and Beatrice a retired prep-school matron, who thinks the idea of living with her cousins preposterous.

Mathilda Rainbird bequeaths her home to three relatives, Tessa who misses her dead parents and brother, but has learnt to live alone; Will a widow, who is drawn to Mathilda's housekeeper Isobel; and Beatrice a retired prep-school matron, who thinks the idea of living with her cousins preposterous.