For years, Elizabeth Miller has dreamed of opening a school for underprivileged girls in London's East End. But despite her best efforts, she soon discovers that the cost of running the fledgling school may spell disaster for the endeavor. In desperation she turns to the one man she'd rather avoid: Lord Charles Chatsworth, a rich and carefree flirt whose scandalous reputation she despises.
Charles is happy to donate to the school—but his offer is not without conditions. In exchange for his financial support, Elizabeth must tutor his relative in elocution. A bargain is struck, but neither anticipates the unexpected pull they feel toward each other. It is not until a journey to Charles's country estate that Elizabeth truly begins to see the man behind the rakish reputation. Soon the couple finds themselves losing their fight against their growing attraction. But when Elizabeth discovers that her school is being sabotaged, she realizes her country romance may not withstand the scheming of the ton.