Miss Garnett Younghusband only wants one thing—and that is to live a contented life with her father and brothers working at their London chandlery. As the royal soap maker, she doesn't want anything to besmirch their good name and ruin everything her father has worked for. But when her younger siblings take it upon themselves to spend a wild night at Vauxhall, she decides to rein them in, only to find herself caught in a trap of her own making.

Mr. Rafe Pinehurst was quite surprised when the enchanting woman he came upon at Vauxhall attempted to fight him off when he was only trying to return the shawl she'd dropped. After a brief misunderstanding, they are soon caught in a rather compromising position where things look more detrimental than they seem. As a gentleman, of course his only option is to rescue the damsel in distress. But offering to do the right thing and act as her betrothed to ward off any scandal only seems to increase her frustration.

As they start to grow closer together, it isn't until a former mistress comes back to town and threatens everything he holds dear, that Rafe realizes Garnett is the one true lady of his heart.