A Woman of Substance

Emma begins as a teen servant at Fairley Hall in rural Yorkshire, living with her father and brothers. The work exposes her to both hardship and ambition that will drive her later rise. These early days seed her resolve to build a business empire.

Emma becomes romantically involved with Edwin Fairley and learns she is pregnant. Edwin refuses to marry her, pushing Emma to face a difficult future on her own. Following Blackie O'Neill's advice, she moves away and presents herself as married to a sailor to protect her prospects.

Seeking a fresh start, Emma relocates and keeps the pregnancy quiet. She meets Abraham Kallinski, who offers her a job in his textile business, changing her fortunes. Through Laura Spencer, she moves into a new circle, starts a job at Thompson's Mill, and soon gives birth to her daughter Edwina.

Emma struggles initially but becomes a shrewd entrepreneur. After two jobs for a year, she rents a shop in Armley selling fabrics, clothing, and luxury foods. The business quickly grows, and she expands to three stores, marking a decisive turn from employee to business owner.

Edwin's vile brother Gerald arrives, threatening to expose Emma and end her child’s existence. Emma refuses to surrender her child and, for safety, marries her landlord Joe Lowther. They have a son named Kit, adding a new branch to her growing family.

Emma forms a formal partnership with Abraham Kallinski and his family. Her private life remains troubled as Joe is killed in the Battle of the Somme and Laura dies in childbirth, leaving Emma to raise Bryan. These losses begin to harden her resolve to weather future storms.

Emma falls in love with Australian Army officer Paul McGill during the war. After Paul returns to his wife, Emma marries Arthur Ainsley and they have twins, Robin and Elizabeth. Paul returns again, and after revealing he had tried to write, Emma and Paul's liaison continues; she eventually divorces Arthur after Daisy is born.

Now rich and powerful, Emma buys the Fairleys' holdings including Fairley Hall, with plans to demolish it for a public park. This act cements her rivalry with the Fairley family and reasserts her control over the region. The acquisition shows how far she has come from humble beginnings.

In February 1939, Paul travels to Australia to ask for a divorce. He is nearly killed in a car crash but survives; he dies within a year and leaves a revised will granting Emma and Daisy the bulk of his assets. He then commits suicide following these revelations.

Emma endures the shocks of war and personal losses while continuing to grow her business empire. Her children marry and start their own families, expanding the Harte fortune despite the upheavals. Her resilience cements her status as a formidable business powerhouse.

Emma's descendants multiply: Edwina, Kit, and Robin have children; Elizabeth has four; Daisy has two, including Paula. The family lineage expands the Harte fortune and keeps the legacy alive across generations. The seeds planted by Emma bloom into a sprawling dynasty.

Back in 1970, Emma gathers her family for her 80th birthday and reveals a radical will. She disinherits her children, leaving everything to her grandchildren, with Daisy receiving the house and her father's sapphires. Paula is named heir to the Harte's Department Store chain, and the others accept £1 million each while promising not to contest.