This novel is based on the life of du Maurier's own great-great-grandmother, Mary Anne Clarke, who rose from poverty in Georgian London to become a well-known figure in society. Clever, ambitious and charming, she becomes the mistress of the Duke of York, the king's son, and lives in style. The book follows her climb, her business dealings and the scandal that brought public attention. It is a lively historical portrait of a resourceful woman in a world dominated by men.