Arcos de la Frontera in the early nineteenth century when Napoleons troops invaded Spain In house Alvareda they are preparing the wedding of the daughter with a young man named Ventura But the wedding is not held because Ventura escapes after killing a French soldier Years later he returns and resumes his relationship with his fiancee However a great secret weighs in his heart he feels an irrepressible passion for Rita the wife of his brother in law