Helene survives a shipwreck and is washed ashore near a small English village. She is swept off her feet by the widowed pastor Edmund but he is watched over by his obsessive housekeeper, Dorothy.
Helene attempts to adjust to life as a pastor's wife but is blamed for the death of Bird Raymond and the ill health of Mother Mathilde. Meanwhile, the kitchen staff keep fellow survivor Geoff hidden.
In accordance with his late mother's will, Edmund and Helene attempt to produce an heir - with some questionable techniques. This leads to Helene and Doctor Foggerty growing closer.
With no sign of an heir, Edmund upsets everyone by announcing that he and his new bride will leave Hunderby for Fiji. Helene and Doctor Foggerty succumb to their feelings for each other.
Helene hopes to run away with the Doctor but when his wife, Hestor, overhears she takes decisive action. Dorothy's scheming seems about to pay off when the hunchback John Whiffin arrives at the house.
There's joyful news in Hunderby as Edmund announces Helene is pregnant. However, his feelings for Geoff grow and become public knowledge. Dorothy seizes upon this as evidence that Helene is a witch.
In order to meet the terms of the inheritance, Dorothy tries to speed Helene's pregnancy up - with Biddy as a makeshift midwife. Edmund is distracted by a new companion to replace Geoff.
