A palpitant first person account retraces the troubled romantic history of Lucy Thorpe Stark Dartow with whom she grew up in Royal Bay (South Carolina), her first childhood Flagg Thorpe, whom she married; and Gloria, who appropriated Stark- only to secure his birthright- Menio Hall, caused his death (a fatal fall) and then attempted to take Flagg. It is Lucy, in the knowledge that Gloria in as heartless as she is beautiful, who sends her away but cannot prevent her return, but this time Flagg- given the choice, makes the right one and Gloria is abandoned to the death she deserves, at other hands.... it's sometimes hard to conceive of a forme fatale who comes out with things like ""Isn't it all too marvy""- but then this is not for questioning readers- and they will have to be women.