The real-life courtship, marriage, and forced breakup of Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and his rich wife from the American south, Elizabeth Patterson. Napoleon did not approve of the union and fixes him up with another girl.

Jérôme Bonaparte, assuming the name "Jerome Laverne," visits Baltimore, where he poses as a teacher and wins the love of Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson, a society girl. After marrying Elizabeth, he reveals himself to be the brother of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon refuses to let her land in France, has their marriage annulled, and sends her back to Baltimore. On the eve of his arranged wedding to the Princess of Würtemburg, Jérôme escapes. He returns to Elizabeth shortly after the birth of their son.