Penelope Clayton knows a lot more about sanitary engineering than she does about polite society. When her father sends her to London to stay with a well-connected cousin, she has little expectation of securing the society marriage he would like, for she's never been taught to curtsey, nor can she dance a step. Despite these shortcomings, her natural aristocratic grace, with the help of some beautiful new gowns, ensures she catches the eye of apparent reprobate Lord Alexander Forsyth, who's seeking a wife to enhance his budding political career. But philandering Viscount Midhurst is in need of a new mistress, and also has designs on her. She doesn't see why she needs to marry at all, but her father has a new young wife and family. When he hires a manager to replace Penelope in running his office, she's forced to consider options for making her own living.