Setonthecuspofthe19thcenturyinDelhibeforetheBritishruledinthatregion，thedramadepictsthefortunesoftheresidentsofBeechamHouse，animposingmansionsurroundedbyacresofexoticwoodsandpristinelawns. TomBateman(VanityFair，JekyllandHyde)takestheroleofenigmatic，soulfulJohnBeecham，ahandsomeformersoldierwhohaspurchasedthemagnificentmansion，BeechamHouse，tobeginanewlifewithhisfamily. Wealthyanddistinguished，JohnhaswitnessedprofiteeringandexploitationduringhistimewiththecontrollingEastIndiaCompanyandhasresolvedtoconducthisbusinessasatraderinamoreequitablemanner.Determinedtoescapehispreviouslife，Johnappearshauntedbyhispast，butisinspiredtobecomeanhonourablememberoftheregion’stradingcommunity. InspiteofJohn’sgoodintentionshislifeisshroudedinmysteryandwhenhearrivesatthehousewithan‘olive-skinned‘childnamedAugustandtwoIndiannursemaids，Chanchal(ShriyaPilgaonkar)andMaya(TruptiKhamkar)，itcausesspeculationandgossipamongsttheservantsthathemaybetheboy’sfather.OneoftheIndiannursemaids，thebeautifulChanchal，isoverlyprotectiveandparticularlyfondofthechild.CouldshebeJohn’sloverandthemotherofAugust? LesleyNicol(DowntonAbbey)isJohn’srobust，interferingmotherHenriettawhohastravelledfromEnglandtoIndiatostaywithherson.SheisaccompaniedbyayoungfamilyfriendViolet，playedbyBessieCarter(LesMiserables)whosheisdeterminedtohelpformaunionwithJohn. ThepairareaccompaniedbyanoldfriendofJohn’s，SamuelParker，playedbyMarcWarren(Safe，Hustle)whohasalsolefttheEastIndiaCompanyandhasreturnedtoIndiaforafreshstart.SamuelhelpsJohntofindhisbrotherDanielwhohehasnotseenfor10years.JohnconvincesDaniel，LeoSuter，(Victoria)toleavetheEastIndiaCompanyandjoinhimatBeechamHouse. GregoryFitoussi(MrSelfridge，Spiral)playsGeneralCastillon，aFrenchmercenaryworkingfortheEmperoratatimewhentheFrencharechallengingtheEastIndiaCompanyforIndia.CastillonissuspiciousofJohnandhismotivesandconspirestostopJohnbeinggrantedatradinglicence. AdilRay(CitizenKhan，AckleyBridge)isJohn’sneighbourMuradBegwhodislikesGeneralCastillonintenselyandagreestohelpJohnsecureatradinglicence.Murad’sdaughter，Roshanara，(KanikaKapur)hasanEnglishgovernessMargaretOsborne，playedbyDakotaBlueRichards(Endeavour)whosebeautyandintelligencecatchesJohn’sattention.However，whenbeautifulChandrika(PallaviSharda)arrivesatBeechamHousewithherentouragesheisshowntoluxuriousguestquartersandimmediatelyinsistsonseeingAugust.WhatsecretsdoesChandrikabringwithhertoBeechamHouse?