When Sam's heroic nature costs him and the rest of the family their jobs at the docks, his wife Mary comes up with a risky business venture, hoping to relieve their financial stress.
Sam hopes giving Joe responsibility will be the making of him but he gets off to a rocky start. Lady Fitzherbert facilitates Mary's entry into polite society with an afternoon tea party.
Mary and Ma attend their first charitable outing with the society ladies, but it brings them face to face with their challenging past. Joe's head is turned by the beautiful Lady Adella.
The board of Hardacre Herring threatens Sam with a grim ultimatum. Meanwhile, Mary gets the cold shoulder from the ladies after the soiree and Ma suspects something is wrong with Liza.