Decorative, dashing and highly romantic tale of Kitty, her meteoric rise from the streets to wealth and a title, of the politics of her ""bed ventures"" as manipulated by her lover, Hugh, and of her one love. Born to poverty and degradation of a brothel at thirteen, she is picked up on the streets by Gainsborough, and accidentally seen at his studio by Hugh Marcy, rake and gambler. He falls in love with her, takes her as his mistress, and with the help of an aunt grooms her, teaches her the three R's, and presents her to society. He marries her off to a crude industrialist, who is killed; then to the rich old Duke of Malminster, who wants an heir which Hugh gallantly provides. Throughout this checkered matrimonial career, Kitty sustains her idealization of Hugh's cousin, Brett (Gainsborough's ""Blue Boy""), who has fallen in love with her at first sight. He wants her as his wife, although she reveals her past, but she realizes the gulf between them and becomes his mistress instead. Study of a period and of a girl with beauty and courage; engaging, seasoned tale.