Edward, Lord Hadnall, leads a hedonistic life in Regency London, along with his friend and occasional lover, Charlie Brabinger. The only blot on Edward's carefree horizon is the insistence of his family that he get married. But then Edward meets Charlie's cousin, Arthur Hathwaite, a kind and honourable country gentleman.

Edward accepts Arthur's invitation to visit his Yorkshire home and is surprised to find rural life highly agreeable. He enjoys Arthur's company immensely, but when Edward makes an unexpected discovery, he is left in a moral dilemma. Will Edward follow his usual indulgent urges or do the right thing for once in his life? Or might he be lucky enough to do both?