Anna Maxwell has lived a life of survival ever since she was forced to live with her aunt and uncle in the English countryside after her parents could no longer afford her well-being in New York City. Though she eats plenty in her uncle's mansion as Earl of Stonelynn, her mind is at war against her body, resulting in nervous attacks and anxiety. Her greedy and proud uncle doesn't have the time or energy to continue with doctors' visits for a niece he shares no blood with and has no love for. After a particularly stressful attack, her uncle decides to send her away to an old friend of his who runs an asylum in New York City. She returns to her old hometown and is shocked to find a kind and welcoming Professor Austen instead of a mean doctor she had envisioned. In Professor Austen's home, Anna befriends other students who vary in background, ethnicity, and personality. She finds comfort in the handsome Professor James Bernstein, and eventually discovers her calling in life through the guidance of the members in the home. Anna must discover which dreams she must follow: the longing to be a wife and mother, or the desire to make a lasting impact on the world around her? Why not both?