Lorenzo Cialico, a commandant in the Roman army, built a beautiful villa in north Devonshire. Lady Edwina, a descendant of Lorenzo, inherited the villa, but it was confiscated by the new king, William. He gave it, as a reward for services rendered, to Phillipe Deauville. Edwina developed a bitter hatred for the new monarch, and swore to herself and her gods that she would one day secure the return of her Casa Bella to her family. Phillipe renamed the villa Deauville. Later Phillipeas son, Thomas, married Edwinaas daughter, Vittoria. That union only partly fulfilled Edwinaas hopes. After several generations, a Cialico male named Thorne and Sara Doville, daughter of Philip Doville of Deauville, fall in love in their teens and intend to marry. Edwinaas dream could come true. However, the English Civil War intervenes, and battles between the royalists and parliamentarians take place involving Deauville. It seems the marriage will never be!