Rescued as a baby by her godfather, the Abbé Gauthier de Chazay, Marianne d'Asselnat, is raised by her aunt, Ellis Selton, in England. On the brink of womanhood at seventeen, her aunt's dying wish is for Marianne to wed Francis Cranmere, the son of an old friend. But the childish love she feels for her new husband soon turns sour when Marianne learns that not only did he gamble away her fortune, he also gave away her wedding night to an American sea Captain.

Enraged by his betrayal, Marianne demands satisfaction from Francis, and after beating him in a duel is forced to flee the only home she has ever known.

Leaving England in order to escape the noose, Marianne must call on all of her skills in order to reach her destiny as she is thrown into the arms of the most powerful man in Europe and an adventure of a lifetime.