Julie le Breton is the illegitimate daughter of Lady Rose, who severed her relations with her aristocratic family when she had the baby and moved to Belgium with her partner. Twenty years later, her parents having died, Julie moves to London to become the companion of Lady Henry, a pillar of society. Only very few know of Julie’s parentage. Julie creates a stir in London society. However, she and Lady Henry fall out, partly because of Lady Henry’s jealousy of Julie’s success in society. Meanwhile, Julie is promoting the cause of a young and handsome soldier, Warkworth. Julie sets up her own household and the book continues to follow the twists and turns of her life and that of her supporters. - Summary by Simon Evers