Emma Kendrick’s impoverished family resolves to use their scarce funds to sponsor a London season for Emma’s beautiful sister Charmian in hopes that she make an advantageous match. Emma is enlisted to serve as her sister’s chaperone while their indolent mother nurses imaginary ailments. Emma tries not to mind her situation, but slowly realizes that she has unfortunately fallen in love the best candidate to marry her sister, a wickedly handsome Earl who she first met by accident in the stables of an inn.