Sir George Stanton dies leaving his wife, his four beautiful daughters and his son Nicky, the new baronet, with no money. To Lady Stanton, the idea was unthinkable. However, Nicky must finish his time at Oxford, so to help him Larisa decides to become a governess in France. But it was truly unthinkable.

Gently--but firmly--Larisa pushed her mother's objections aside, and the family did have to retrench. She set off for Valmont-sur-Seine to Chateau Valmont, eager to teach her new pupil and to meet her infamous employer, Comte Raoul de Valmont.

The Count's exceptional success with pretty women already had all of Paris society calling him "The Devil." But surely the handsome, worldly Comte would not give a second thought to an unsophisticated nineteen-year-old governess... Even if she was intelligent, totally unspoiled and exquisitely beautiful. ( )

Larisa's family is bereft after the death of her father and she takes a post as governess in France to help out with finances. Here she meets her pupil and his father, Raoul de Valmont. ( )