Married young to an abusive husband, Esme spent over thirty years grounding herself and doing her best to raise her sons: Elton, born when she was still a teenager, and Elliot, the long-awaited spare. Whatever storms the Viscount Seaford threw their way, Esme was determined to raise boys who were nothing like him. Two years ago a fever took the Viscount, but his death was not the instant relief Esme had always imagined — Now out of mourning, she is having to recalibrate her entire life and guide her sons, now men, through what it means to stand on their own two feet.