Penderleigh Castle is the home of the Robertsons, who have just been dealt a terrible blow. Their new master, already an English duke, has just been named the Scottish Earl of Penderleigh. Ian Carmichael, Duke of Portmaine, is proud, aristocratic, handsome as the devil's right hand, and kinder than any grousing Robertson has a right to expect. Brandy Robertson--the old earl's granddaughter--takes one look at the duke and her heart goes ballistic. The problem is, the duke is already engaged, and if that isn't bad enough, someone wants to kill him....