Sylvester, Duke of Salford, is surprised to find his proposal of marriage to the Honourable Phoebe Marlow will cause that hoydenish young lady to flee her home Intrigued by her frank dislike of him he determines to win her good opinion But she is the author of a scandalous romance in which 'the ton' - and himself in particular - are pilloried On the brink of social disaster, Phoebe sets out for France