A marriage has been arranged for heiress Cassandra Sherburn by her father and the Duke of Alchester to his heir—the young Marquis of Charlbury. Owing to the unexpected deaths of first Cassandra's grandfather, then the Duke, their engagement is postponed. But Cassandra has learned that her betrothed's only interest appears to be the beautiful actresses of the Gaiety Theater, and feels she could not contemplate being married to a man who only wants her money. So Cassandra goes to London to meet the young Duke disguised as one of the women he admires—and gets herself into a very dangerous situation.
