Six years ago, the dissolute Marquis of Saint-Austelle betrayed his best friend and his own sense of honor by seducing Lionel's sister, Lavidia Trakern. Now Saint-Austelle hired Lionel as an artist and met Lavidia again. And although the girl is still as beautiful as ever, she lives in poverty... and among the secrets that seem to haunt the Truckern family. The scandalous Marquis intends to help Lavidia, despite her reluctance, but the most difficult task for him is the fight against the passion that still burns between them...