When her grandmother dies, Paola, the beautiful young daughter of the Earl and Countess of Berisforde is dismayed to find that the family’s customary six months’ mourning means that she will miss her debut in the London Season. Instead her mother sends her to stay in the ancient and historic Italian town of Lucca with her aunt, the Contessa Raulo, who is to be her chaperone. Paola’s adventurer cousin Hugo arrives just before she leaves and asks a favour of Paola that is to prove fateful.