Victoire The Marquis of Tarn's family were not surprised to be told that he had broken the heart and ruined the reputation of a girl in Ireland, but they were surprised at the extremely pretty, shy young lady who was produced as his victim. Fortunately the Marquis arrived in time to proclaim Victoire Duvenay an arrant imposter, but not before Victoire, an unwilling cat's paw in her cousin's scheme, had come to the same embarrassing conclusion.

But Victoire, not so defenceless and gullible as she seems, has no intention of becoming anyone's pawn or prey. Emerging as a leading light of the London season, she soon has the hot tempered, hot blooded Tarn dancing attendance upon her, and a host of rakes, fortune hunters, and rogues swarming around. Despite the rivalry of a beautiful Condessa who does not intend to lose Tarn to anyone, the machinations of Tarn's cousin who plots to inherit the title, and the designs of a handsome young officer from her own past, she sets out to tame the notoriously arrogant Marquis, and teach him an unforgettable lesson in love.