As the sun sets on the Edwardian empire, principled aristocrat Christopher Tietjens enters into a tumultuous marriage with Sylvia, a cruel socialite, despite the questionable paternity of her unborn child. Ignoring her overt flirtation with other men, Christopher resolves to remain faithful, even after meeting Valentine Wannop, a fearless young suffragette, with whom he becomes quite smitten. Meanwhile, Christopher's colleague and confidant, amateur critic Vincent Macmaster, is unable to similarly resist the charms of Edith Duchemin, the frustrated wife of a deranged minister.
