Ivan Thornton, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Westcott, inherited the title only because his father had no other children. Having suffered many humiliations in his youth, he takes revenge on high society for his insults, easily breaking the hearts of lovely ladies. Having decided to marry her grandson, Countess Westcott arranges for him to meet the amazing, unlike anyone else, Lucy Drysdale, a charming, intelligent girl. Ivan is submissive, but, not knowing love and affection in childhood, he cannot believe that it is not only carnal desire that binds him to Lucy.