Mathilde Valentine is settling into life as a medic in East Africa. It's a place of mystery and danger and is warned by the rugged game warden - Olensky - to be wary of her new employer, a Scottish missionary. Ignoring his advice, Mathilde is soon punished and sent to the harem, where she has to deal with the demanding Sultan, his sadistic brother and the Sultan's spoilt and sexually rampant son. Meanwhile Olensky - her 'lion lover' - is plotting to bring about her escape. But by the time he makes it to the harem, will she even want to be rescued.