During the Renaissance, Genevieve, at age twelve, is forced into an abusive marriage to a man who is obsessed with her. After a couple of years, desperate to escape, she flees to a monastery disguising herself as a boy, where she is befriended by a young Italian novice. She soon finds herself in love with him and adventures ensue in Florence, that involve the painter Botticelli. Sadly her happiness is interrupted because she must come to terms with her husband before she can be with the man she loves.