French noblewoman Jeanne Morisette had first met Englishman Robert Blake when they were teenagers, but when they meet again as adults, their countries are at war and they are serving as spies. In 1799 in England, the illegitimate 17-year-old son of an English marquess meets a 15-year-old French countess at a ball; they fall in love but--because of their respective social status--are forced to part. Eleven years later, they meet again at another ball, this time in Lisbon. Robert Blake is now a captain with the British army and widow Joana da Fonte is Marquesa das Minas. Although only one recognizes the other, both fall in love again.