A young woman seeks to unearth the truth about a distant ancestor: Upon learning that she may be the descendant of a noblewoman who scandalized society upon moving to the island of Madeira, a woman in the present vows to unlock the many secrets of her family past. Her search transcending time, class, and lifestyle, she gradually uncovers ties to several island women whose unfulfilled passions unfold against the backdrops of lavish manor houses and ocean-swept shores.