Lady Francesca de Lisle outrages the Winchester elite when, under the penname of Lady Alethia, she writes a column for the local newspaper describing the antics, rivalries, and peccadilloes of the most prominent social families.

The Duke of Wexford met Lady Francesca de Lisle in a most unorthodox fashion. She was bathing unclothed in his river. Trespassing! Disturbing his newly stocked baby trout... and disturbing him even more!

Such behaviour, such beauty and such spirit were unusual in a lady. So began a relationship that set the town of Winchester agog and two independent people on a perilous path to love.