Grace Elliott (Russell) was a British beauty who was first mistress to the
Prince of Wales (who later
became England's King George IV) and then to the Duke of Orleans, who brought her to France to live
in 1786.
By the time the Revolution begins, Grace and the Duke's ardour has cooled, yet there's no mistaking
their passionate friendship. Each lights up with joy at the other's sight. However, the two are
at odds politically. She's a royalist, faithful to King Louis XVI -- while he, although a cousin
to the King, is not.
Politics aside, Grace manages to cajole the Duke into helping an injured aristocrat escape, but
fails to keep him from voting for the King's execution.