Falling in love is effortless . . . To unravel the tangle becomes quite the chore

Exiled to the country after a disastrous Season, Lady Catherine Jessup finds life at Grimshaw Court far more agreeable than the horrid Marriage Mart of London. Kate allows her companion to step into the shoes of "Lady Catherine" while she pursues the idle life, enjoying her pursuits of reading, drawing, and dreaming of a carefree life.

Lord Stephen Emerson seeks the refuge of his uncle's country house to escape his marriage-minded mother's matchmaking ways until he can safely return to University. The bucolic setting allows Stephen to spend the days pursuing sports, long after-dinner promenades, and reading in the evenings. The last thing he wants is to be dragged into a gaggle of females in search of husbands.

The imminent arrival of Kate's guardian threatens to expose her masquerade. Does his presence bring her game to an end, making her an outcast, or provide a catalyst for dreams realized, and will true love follow?

Will Kate and Stephen ever see they share more than mere passing interests? Both strongly wish to remain unattached, but when circumstances dictate otherwise, will they realize what they should do and marry?