Emily Crawley, a young chambermaid, has just become the luckiest maiden in all of England. Charles, Lord of Remington, heir to the duke, has made her his wife and future duchess. She is now Lady Emily, the Marchioness of Remington.

Theirs is a love story that began the day she was born, when six-year-old Charles first laid eyes on the wee red-headed babe that had been born to the family's beloved cook and the duke's valet. Through the many obstacles they survived to be together, it seems that their dreams have finally come true. Her husband, who would have given up all that was dear to him to have her, has made it very clear to her from the beginning that there are only a few rules she must follow, and Emily finds herself over Charles's knees quite often when she lapses.

But war has been declared, and when Charles offers himself to his country for a secret mission and Emily is forced to take over the reins in his absence, will she be up to the task? She has learned very quickly that, along with the heated passion she shares with her new husband, also comes responsibility. Thrust into a role she was not quite ready for, will Emily's doubts be erased as she emerges into the noblewoman she was destined to be?