17th Century Russia remains very much a patriarchal society For the headstrong & wilful Katia daughter of Baron Alexei Sergeyevich Ulenka life in the terem (a palace sanctuary where the virtue of girls is safeguarded) is unbearable when all she wants to do is experience the freedom of riding a horse But ride a horse she does Dressed as a servant girl Katia meets & goes riding with the darkly intriguing German stable boy Wiley But Wiley is headstrong too & soon is challenged by the aristocratic Feodor Katia's cousin After three secret meetings Katia & Wiley start to fall in love but such a union could never be in a world where rich girls are seen as commodities to be used for advancement through marriage To give himself any kind of chance with Katia Wiley joins the dragoons with Pavel Katia's brother & then begins the years of physical emotional & intentional separation