57 year old Allan Durrell, head librarian for Nanticoke City in Wessex County, Delaware, is up for promotion to chief librarian for the entire county. By chance he meets beautiful 44 year old Maude Gustavson who suffer severely from asthma. Once a month she purchases a new claret Grace Kelly bag she carries around for a week. She's also a high-class whore. They fall in love. Will her pimp allow this? Can she escape her corrupt paramour's evil clutches? Will he lose his promotion? Can he keep his present post? Shall she suffer a fatal asthma attack? Shal he experience irredeemable pain? Is love worth dying for?