Sussex, 1801 Governess Pompeia Grant thinks pretending to be Sir James Carling's wife as a favor to his sister will be harmless. She is haunted by his rejection of her youthful advances, but she's desperate for a place to stay after losing her last post. When James unexpectedly returns home from America, she assumes the game is up-until James encourages her to stay, and enjoy the pleasurable consequences of their charade.