When an eccentric, red-haired American woman with two extremely flatulent dogs marries the famed earl of Weston, all of London Society is agog. Despite her new husband's reserve, Gillian vows to reach her wounded husband and his equally damaged son, and make their lives one of happiness and peace. What follows is a series of unfortunate events including kidnapping, a duel, a mad Scotsman determined to seek revenge, and a helpful man who may or may not be an actual ghost.

Noble Britton suffered greatly at the hands of his first wife, and he refuses to fall into the same trap again. This time he intends to marry a quiet, biddable woman who will not draw attention to herself or cause scandal. Gillian Leigh's honest manner and spontaneous laughter attract him immediately. It matters little that she is accident-prone; he can provide the structure necessary to guide her.

But unconventional to the tips of her half-American toes, his new bride turns the tables on him, wreaking havoc on his orderly life. Perpetually one step behind his beguiling spouse, Noble suffers a banged-up head, a black eye, and a broken nose before he realizes Gillian has healed his soul and proven that their union is no heedless tumble, but the swoon of true love.