After Lady Anne's father betrayed her mother and ruined the family, she is determined to find an honorable and upright husband who is nothing like her father. She already has the perfect candidate in mind - the Duke of Crawford. To win his heart, she turns to Harry Falston, the Earl of Stanhope, with an unusual request, despite his more than dubious reputation in good society. Harry Falston has better things to do than teach the unmarried sister of a friend the art of seduction, not least because there is a strong mutual dislike between him and the lady. She always suspects the worst of him, and he considers all women to be greedy, scheming intrigues. However, almost against their will, the lessons in love soon lead to something more, and Anne and Harry must confront each other.