In 1900, as women strive for equality amidst lingering societal restrictions, Alice Butterworth faces a personal crisis when her husband disappears. Determined to support herself and her unborn child, she leaves the harsh winter of Chicago for New Orleans, where she offers sewing lessons at an orphanage. There, she meets Constance Halstead, a young widow grappling with her late husband's gambling debts, who immerses herself in charitable work. Constance invites Alice to stay with her in exchange for help in creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all-female krewe of Mardi Gras. Leap Years grant women a rare chance to assert control over social interactions, and the gown becomes a powerful symbol of their burgeoning independence. However, Constance is burdened by the mystery surrounding her husband Benton’s death, which is tied to the dangerous Black Hand gang of New Orleans' Storyville district. His demise has not quelled their threats. As Mardi Gras approaches, a secret surfaces that will deepen the bond between Alice and Constance while endangering the new lives they are striving to build.
