Samuel Godwin, a naive young art tutor, takes up a job at Fourwinds — a grand, mysterious country house. He is tasked with tutoring two sisters: Marianne, who is imaginative and emotionally fragile, and Juliana, who is controlled and sad.
 
As he spends time with the family, Samuel uncovers hidden secrets, lies, and emotional turmoil that bind the sisters and their governess, Charlotte Agnew.
 
Over time, the true nature of the family’s past — including grief, betrayal, and unspoken trauma — comes to light, profoundly affecting everyone’s lives.