A YOUNG GIRL'S RUDE AWAKENING

It was the spring of 1909, when Gardenia Weedon's mother died, leaving her penniless, Gardenia ran to the Paris home of her one living relative--the wealthy and beautiful Duchess de Mabillon. Travel-stained, weary and penniless she arrived to Paris, and before the lovely Gardenia knew it, she was clothed in high Paris fashion and mingling with society's most eligible bachelors--among them the cool and handsome Englishman, Lord Hartcourt.

But though she loved Paris, Gardenia felt uneasy about the shocking parties she frequently witnessed, about the leering Baron who was forever in her aunt's boudoir, about the way all the elegant young gentlemen looked at her and spoke to her.

And then, to make matters worse, Gardenia fell in love....