The local society could only speculate how a pair of turtledoves would cope as the guests of the scandalous Lady Dacey. Surely she would attempt to corrupt them—an act that both Pamela Perryworth and Honoria Goodham would see as welcome entertainment in their rigid, joyless lives.

Though Mrs. Perryworth is married—most unhappily—and the young Honoria has a cloying tendency to read too much scripture, the purity and loveliness of both ladies nonetheless inflames the senses of two notorious lords. Mr. Sean Delaney loses his heart at first sight of the fair Mrs. Perryworth, while the disreputable Duke of Ware is quite disturbed by the innocent Honoria, who unknowingly dares to tempt his jaded heart.