Connie is isolated from society and trapped in a sexless marriage. She is exhausted by caring for her rather bitter and querelous husband, who has been seriously injured during the War and who is now paralysed from the waist down. Lord Clifford Chatterley, the husband, refuses to employ a manservant to relieve some of her burden, but chooses to engage Mellors the gamekeeper recently returned from the War. When Clifford asks Connie to take a message to Mellors, she calls at his cottage in the woods. She finds herself attracted to him physically.
Connie takes to walking in the woods in Spring, and regularly meets with Mellors. Initially their meetings are uneasy affairs, although they are obviously attracted to each other. Mrs Bolton looks after Clifford more and more, and the latter comes into conflict with the striking miners at Tavershall, where he takes a hard line. Connie disagrees with his views and actions, and she and Mellors begin an affair, consumating it in the hut and in the woods.
Connie accepts an invitation to stay at her father's seaside retreat, Mandalay. The news of her departure affects both of the men in her life. Clifford is torn, fearing that she will take a lover, under the influence of her worldly- wise sister, Hilda, but keen on the idea of her getting pregnant and bringing up the child as a Chatterley. Mellors retreats behind his old barriers and threatens to make a fresh start on his own. But the passion between Connie and Mellors continues. She stays overnight with him in his cottage, and persuades her sister to drop her off for the night on their way to Madalay.
Lady Chatterley relaxes with her one-time suitor, Donald Forbes, by the sea at Mandalay. News arrives that Mellors' estranged wife is spreading rumours of a scandal which Sir Clifford cannot fail to hear. Hilda tries to convince her sister to end the affair. Connie confesses that she is pregnant. She returns to find Clifford overjoyed to see her. Connie arranges to see Mellors but their parting is short. He prepares to leave for Canada and a new life.
