Jean, the daughter of the Laird's farrier, has loved Alan, successor to the lairdship of Clan Grant, for years. At 16, Jean was hired as the castle's kitchen help, and worshipped Alan from afar. But Alan paid her no attention, and his good looks attracted the affections of many women, especially Lady Janet, a woman full of conceit, envy, and jealousy, to whom he is betrothed.

But Alan's heart does not beat with love for Lady Janet, who his parents expect he will marry. At a banquet with the clan's finest ladies, his eyes land on Jean, and his heart skips a beat, but his infatuation vanishes when he is told she is the kitchen help. But something about Jean pulls at his heart, and he finds himself visiting her each day.

While love blossoms for Jean, fury ignites in Alan's parents and in Lady Janet, who will do whatever deadly deed is needed to keep Alan for herself. When her plan involves Jean's father and rival Clan Gordon which she gets to play out, she knows that Jean's father will be banished from the castle and put to death, and Jean will be banished from the castle.

For Alan cannot betray his clan over a common woman, and while his heart is torn between love and honor, he chooses honor, even if it means marrying a woman he will never love.