Wealthy and beautiful Millicent Forrester doesn't need a man, much less an Earl. But when Millicent is suddenly left to raise her orphaned niece and nephew, her late sister-in-law's brother arrives on the scene to take control. Charles Nordfolk, the Earl of Sanhurst, is devastated by the loss of his sister at sea, but even more shocked at the Bohemian atmosphere in which she's unwittingly left her children. Wresting the young orphans from beautiful, strong-willed Millicent in order to give them the proper British upbringing, however, is more difficult than it looks. When the Earl manages to get the children removed to his country estate, he's annoyed to discover that their aunt has accompanied them as a package deal and plans to upset his orderly existence until they can come to some sort of accommodation regarding the children. As the two opposites spar, they inevitably, as opposites do, attract. Will they both get what they don't want... or what they do?