Nancy Pike, a pupil at Miss Hesketh's school for surplus girls, feels out of her depth. She never wanted to leave her beloved pie-shop job, but she knows she needs to better herself. Her only joy is getting to know the children at St Anthony's orphanage and working for Mr Zachary Milner.

Zachary's new business is off to a flying start, and Nancy's presence has brought a little sunshine back into his life. But when she makes a terrible mistake that puts his livelihood in jeopardy, he has no choice but to let her go. As Nancy struggles to make it up to him, she must also try to make this Christmas the best the orphans have ever seen. Can she bring a little Christmas cheer to the orphanage, and maybe even to Zachary Milner?