Arabella Tallant, the daughter of an impoverished country clergyman, travels to London for a season that may determine her family’s future. Provoked by the wealthy and self-assured Robert Beaumaris, she allows him to believe that she is a great heiress rather than admit that she has little fortune.
The deception makes Arabella one of the most sought-after women in society, but it also threatens every genuine relationship she forms. Beaumaris gradually tests the character beneath her invented reputation, while Arabella’s generosity towards people and animals reveals values that wealth cannot manufacture.