Secrets abound between architect Dan Pierce and his newlywed bride Ellen Pierce, who have run in the same upper class Long Island social circle since they were children, and Ellen's wealthy financier father, Simon Bowker, who as of late has been showering Ellen with expensive gifts. Most of these secrets stem from two items concerning Ellen. The first is Ellen having come to terms with herself that because she is plainer and less gay than most of the girls in her social circle that she was destined to be a spinster. Anyone asking her to marry him was as much a surprise to her as the fact that Dan asked her despite it being well known that he had been dating their mutual friend Maud Redwick, who said as much to Ellen that she was in love with him and that she expected him imminently to ask her to marry her. Ellen marrying Dan has since placed a strain between Ellen and Maud. And the second is Dr. Pritchard, the Bowkers' long time family physician, telling Ellen that her heart condition is nothing serious despite it having affected what she can do physically in often being winded in doing anything strenuous. The secrets are that Mr. Bowker and Dan entered into an agreement for Dan to ask Ellen to marry him which would provide Dan with opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have in already struggling professionally, with the agreement in light of the true diagnosis that her heart condition is serious with she only given about a year to live. Bowker's goal was to give Ellen, who he loves with all his heart, the best year of what would be her truncated life. What happens between the three and Maud will be affected by changes in the situation over that year, most specifically with Dan and Ellen.
—Huggo