Stella loves the old treasures she sells as an auctioneer . But since she has been working with her husband Peter and his father Richard in the family auction house , her marriage has been in trouble . After another argument , she wants a divorce. But before they start their projectimplement , she receives an invitation to the reading of the will of a Lord Willoughby, of whom she has never heard . Curious , she makes her way to Cornwall . There they are awaited by an impressive property and the attractive architect David, who after the death of theLords temporarily looking after the estate . When she is greeted by the cranky old butler James with "Countess of Willoughby" , she is stunned. In addition to Stella , the Lord's second wife, June , and her sister Virginia are present at the reading of the will . To the all-roundTo their surprise , they learn that Stella is the Lord 's granddaughter . Stella 's father had chosen his civil love and had been cast out as a result .