Kitty

In 1783 London, Kitty, a poor thief, is nabbed while pocket-picking the painter Thomas Gainsborough. Amused, Gainsborough pays her to sit for a portrait, starting an unlikely collaboration between artist and model. The opportunity marks the start of Kitty's ascent from poverty to influence.

Gainsborough's portrait The Anonymous Lady captures public imagination as people try to guess who sits for it. The painting attracts attention from patrons and curiosity-seekers alike. Kitty's presence lingers behind the mystery, fueling talk in London art circles.

Sir Hugh Marcy notices Kitty during the pose and makes an unexpected offer: a job as a scullery maid and ward under his aunt. He reveals his own poverty and ambition, and sees Kitty as a potential ally or instrument. The encounter shifts Kitty from thief to someone with doors opening before her.

The Duke of Malmunster buys The Anonymous Lady and asks Gainsborough who the model might be. Sir Hugh interjects, claiming Kitty is his aunt's ward, which protects her identity. The exchange ties Kitty’s fate to aristocratic politics and Gainsborough's promotion.

The Duke proposes to help Hugh reclaim his Foreign Office post in exchange for an introduction to Kitty. Gainsborough and Hugh navigate a delicate wager of influence and reputation. Kitty becomes a focal point in a web of power, art, and marriage ambitions.

Kitty's growing affection for Hugh leads to a radical move: she charms wealthy industrialist Jonathan Selby into marriage, using her dowry to secure Hugh's release from debtors' prison. The scheme binds Kitty to a fortune and to a man whose wealth may both help and hinder her. The action sparks a new set of consequences for all involved.

Selby dies at the hands of Kitty's loyal maid, leaving Kitty with a large fortune. This windfall shifts her position and power in society, intensifying the draws and dangers of her evolving relationships. The fortune also deepens Hugh's resolve to control Kitty's future.

Desiring happiness with Hugh but seeing his determination, Kitty agrees to marry the Duke of Malmunster so that Hugh can reclaim his career. The arrangement tests their affection against ambition and social leverage. Kitty's choice reflects the persistent tension between love and advancement.

After the wedding, the Duke announces that Kitty is pregnant, though the father is the late Selby. Following the birth of a son, the old Duke dies, leaving Kitty extremely wealthy. The rapid turn of events consolidates her power and reshapes her prospects.

After a solemn mourning period, Hugh tries to arrange a third marriage for Kitty, this time to the Prince of Wales. Kitty asserts that she has already married twice for love, not convenience. Hugh insists their bond is a business arrangement, not merely romance.

Kitty becomes engaged to Hugh's close friend, the Earl of Carstairs, stirring tension between the two men. Seeing them together, Hugh realizes he actually loves Kitty. The Earl, a true gentleman, chooses not to stand in the way of their happiness.

With obstacles resolved, Hugh and Kitty are free to affirm their mutual devotion. Their relationship evolves from strategic maneuvering to genuine partnership based on shared history and affection. The ending emphasizes love overcoming status and ambition.