Lovely Margaret Anstell strongly hopes to secure a successful season for her daughter Henrietta, despite the downturn in the family’s finances and lack of noble birth. Henrietta is less certain of this plan, preferring instead to work on her writing. Yet she changes her mind after meeting a handsome viscount. The Earl of Pardo initially finds the Anstell family too common for his regard and tries to stop the young couple’s romance. He is drawn up short eventually though by his growing love for the widowed Margaret.