"Jeanne Dremont makes a promise that her daughter will never live in poverty. But what Jeanne doesn't know is that promise will bring happiness to some, but bitterness to the generations to come.
Jeanne arranges for her daughter, Marguerite, to become mistress to a French nobleman who serves the King. But due to religious persecution, Marguerite's lover is forced to flee the country, leaving Marguerite behind. Marguerite later marries Laurent, an architect to the King. In their old age, Marguerite and Laurent have a daughter named Jasmin.
Jasmin is spoiled by Laurent and thinks that the world is hers to command. Through her friendship with the new young King of France, she angers the Deputy Ruler. As punishment, Jasmin is forced to marry a courtier by the name of Sabatin, who also angered the Deputy Ruler. They are both banished from Versailles and forced to live in the country.
Sabatin blames Jasmin for all of his problems. He ignores her during the day, but rapes her at night. The years pass, and Jasmin's parents send to her an artist to paint her. They fall in love, and when the artist has finished his commission and leaves, Jasmin finds out that she's pregnant. She manages to keep the pregnancy from her husband. When Violette is born, she is turned over to a couple in the country.
Violette is willfull and rebellious. Convinced that she's missing out on life, she runs away from home.
Finally, when Sabatin is dead and she an old woman, Jasmin's banishment is lifted. She returns to Versailles and after many years mother and daughter are reunited.
Violette reveals to her mother that she was a temporary mistress to the King, and has had his child. As payment for her services, the King has arranged a marriage between her and an Austrian nobleman. Only, Violette is not allowed to bring Rose, her baby. So, Jasmin takes Rose in.
Rose lives a happy life until she turns sixteen. Then, she receives a royal command to become lady-in-waiting to the new queen, Marie Antoinette. This was the wish of her late father. Rose is stunned to find out the truth about her parents. She bitterly resents her grandmother for keeping it a secret. She would rather live a life of independence than to serve and dance with kings.
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Marie Morris, Resident Scholar
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