Bernadottes new position now takes Desiree to the royal court of Sweden. Life there is very hard for the silk merchants daughter who almost married Napoleon in Marseilles. She is happier in Paris, even without her family. But Napoleon is still jealous of her husband. When he and Desiree meet, there is always trouble. And when war comes again, the two men are on opposite sides.

Napoleon does at last, on the island of St Helena. He had terrible faults, said Desiree. But he was my first love--- and Im not ashamed of those days in Marseilles. She goes back to Sweden and there she is crowned: the first Queen of the royal family of Bernadotte.