Catherine Cookson's The Dwelling Place

A bare stone shelter is all that protects Cissie Brodie and her siblings from the workhouse after their parents die in a cholera epidemic.

Lord Fischel takes an interest in his grandson. When Bella gets into trouble, Cissie is forced to go to Lord Fischel for help.

Isabella is not happy and tries to kill Cissie but Clive kills her first and Matthew helps him to make it look like an accident.