For Frances Howe a trip to Europe was the turning point in her life at 18, she was naive, impressionable and ready to be loved by a man who would show her a life beyond the confines of her Catholic upbringing To Philip Armstrong she was a cool, striking girl whose reticence only added to her sexual appeal They marry and find fulfilment until her growing success as a writer causes envy and loss of self-esteem in her husband Can she keep her independence and success?