Botanist Robert Meriweather has been tasked by the Continental Occident Company to travel beyond the known lands of Canton to search for the "forbidden flowers," specimens of such breathtaking beauty that the mere sight has caused men to forsake their homelands. Robert's orders are to bring these blossoms back to England, where all of society's rewards-and his betrothed, Livia-await him. Robert soon finds himself on an unexpectedly erotic adventure, in which he must abandon all his Victorian social moires to succeed in his mission. But he will never abandon Livia and his dream of marrying her as a gentleman of standing.