Adam Page, the Earl of Dayton, spends some of his nights acting in the theatre under the alias Jefferson Crowdy. He's so good at acting that a playwright wants him to take the lead role in their play. If the playwright can convince him to do it, then the play will gain acceptance, and the playwright's writing career will take off.

Adam takes one read through the play and refuses to do it. The very playwright he has insulted has an alias as well, and she happens to be the lady he's very much attracted to.