Beatrix Manning, cousin to the beautiful Lady Cordelia, wants to be a famous novelist. Although she enjoys reading out her silly stories to the Literary Gathering of Dubious Merit, she has secretly been working on a book that she hopes will change her fortunes, but it requires a rewrite due to some unflattering caricatures of the Ton within the pages.

Felix Drake, a budding publisher and printer intent on growing his business, is flattered and grateful when an old friend invites him to read to her wealthy friends. As luck would have it, an entertaining story from a Mysterious Authoress recently landed in his lap, and it is as much of a hit with the Ton as he hoped it would be. Unfortunately one of the young ladies at the party claims that the book is hers - and than she has not given him permission to publish it.

Trix is horrified that her book - including the very unflattering portraits of some of the well connected members of Society - is fast becoming all the rage. With the help of her cousin, Cordy, she is desperate to limit the damage as much as possible, while proving that she is the real writer to Felix. If anyone else should discover that she is the author, however, her reputation could be ruined. In addition, the identity of the mysterious fake authoress still needs to be uncovered. Felix is inclined to believe Trix is the real writer, but his business depends on this book becoming successful. As their attraction to each other only grows, the real question is whether their different goals will bring them together or eventually drive them apart.