Trevor Wentworth, the Earl of Leven, returns from Wellington's side to learn his father left the estate near bankrupt. With little choice but to marry money, he settles on the cold and aloof Sabrina Kent. But it is her sister, Nicole, who wins his heart. Yet a few stolen and wonderful kiss are not enough to make him forget his duty to all the people depending on Sabrina's inheritance to put the estate to rights.

Nicole is head-over-heels for Trevor, but that won't allow her to be disloyal to her sister—until Sabrina begs her to intercede and try to talk Trevor out of the marriage. Nicole reluctantly agrees and when they are caught in a compromising position, it's Nicole whom Trevor is forced to marry.

Thinking Nicole has betrayed him to aid her sister, he wants nothing to do with her and abandons his new bride at his rarely-used country house. When he finally returns to claim his young wife, will it be too late?