A duke and duchess eagerly anticipate the birth of their first child, who seemingly will be an heir.  When the duchess dies in childbirth and the duke is left only with a daughter, he leaves, hoping to find a new wife and being unable to look at his daughter because of the reminder of what happened to his wife.  Jessica, the child, is left with a stepmother who despises her.  Forced to stay inside for years,  Jessica’s skin becomes so pale and colorless that she earns the nickname”Snow.”  Jessica’s stepmother is running a bizarre experiment involving a mirror, and is becoming increasingly jealous of Jessica’s beauty.  Her stepmother’s minstrel mirror warns Jessica of murderous plans, and the girl flees to London.  There, she serves as a maid for a group of five “Lonely Ones” and is happier there than in her life as a duke’s daughter.