A man of new-found wealth enters society-and an arranged marriage-by striking a gentleman's bargain with an aristocrat with something to hide. But his charade of a marriage catches him off guard when it explodes into a passion strong enough to blow every lie and misconception apart.
Awful characterization ... just awful! None of these people's decisions make any rational sense or are consistent with what we are told (not shown, oh no!) about them at dreary length. And there is the bonus gift of a heroine with the decision-making skills and emotional maturity of a 12-year-old.
But don't worry, there's a monkey! Nobody ever came back from India back then without a monkey and the requisite colorful ethnic man-servant!!