Carnival night in Venice, 1748. During the festivities the young Countess Cornelia meets and falls under the spell of a mysterious green-eyed young man. Despite the fact that Cornelia is engaged to marry the Duke of Fontages, the inevitable takes place and Cornelia soon realises that she is pregnant. Her shocked parents lock her up in their country house to keep her out of sight and try their very best to continue preparing for the imminent wedding with the Duke. One of the servants at the country house is Rosa a very poor young women who is also pregnant and unmarried.