It was on the invitation of the elderly Marquesa de Mendao that Malcolm Trevellyan and his young wife Rachel were staying at the imposing quinta in Portugal. But Rachel was far from happy there. Malcolm was being embarrassingly rude and demanding to his hostess, who made it clear to Rachel that she at least was very far from welcome. And the Marquesa's son Luis, the Marques de Mendao, made no secret of his contempt for Rachel and her husband. Just what was behind it all? And how could Rachel manage to control her growing, unwilling attraction to Luis? How would it all end?