Randal Courteney seeks escape at a remote seaside village, hoping to outrun his disillusionment with the world. Instead, he finds himself entangled in the orbit of Rosa Mundi, a celebrated dancer whose very name spells ruin for the men who pursue her. When young Rosemary reveals the dancer's secret presence in the area, Courteney's contempt is immediate and absolute. He has seen what her kind leaves behind: broken promises, squandered fortunes, lives dismantled by obsession. Yet the child's innocent devotion to Rosa Mundi begins to crack through his cynicism, drawing him toward a woman he has every reason to despise. Dell weaves a tale of sacrifice and redemption, exploring what fame costs those who possess it and the innocent lives caught in its shadow. The collection's five additional stories continue this exploration of love between desire and duty, where passion collides with social convention and characters must choose between their hearts and their honor.
