When Hari Morgan's father died, he left her nothing but an ailing mother and the tools of his shoemaking business. But what he also passed on to his daughter was a rare and unusual gift—that of designing and making shoes that were stylish and different. One of the first to realize this was Emily Grenfell, the spoiled daughter of one of the richest men in Swansea. Emily, who resented the beauty and courage of Hari Morgan, nonetheless was delighted with the dancing slippers she made for her debut at the Race Ball. It was to be the beginning of a lifetime of friendship, hatred, and rivalry between the two girls for, as Hari's business and fame began to grow, so did Emily's fortune began to decline.