Frederick Sullivan goes to Bath to find himself a rich wife in order to save himself from financial ruin. He sets his sights and his considerable charm on the plain and crippled--and enormously wealthy--Clara Danford. When she accepts his proposal, Clara is not for one moment deceived into thinking that he really cares for her. But she chooses to accept him anyway because her life has been almost devoid of beauty and Freddie is the most beautiful man she has ever seen.