Set in 18th-century London, the series follows two rival brothel keepers — the ambitious Margaret Wells, who is trying to move her business upmarket, and the established, ruthless Lydia Quigley, who views her as a threat. Their fierce competition plays out against the backdrop of Georgian society's stark class divisions and the brutal realities faced by the women who work in the trade. The younger generation, including Margaret's own daughters, must navigate exploitation, desire, and the slim possibilities of escape or advancement available to women of their station.