England, 1813. Penelope, the second eldest daughter of the Viscountess of Panswick, has just rejected her fourth marriage proposal. Ever since her heart was broken during her debut in London, she would prefer to lead a quiet life at Lancroft Abbey, surrounded by her beloved animals. However, Lady Panswick is eager to see her daughters married off as soon as possible. So she organizes a ball, inviting suitable bachelors. She also extracts a promise from Penelope to accept a fifth marriage proposal no matter what. But it's not just the preparations for the ball that keep Penelope on her toes. She is also caring for an injured soldier, whom her mother assumes is a distant relative. But who is this man really?.