'Devil' Mackenzie, the Marquis of Ellsworth, isn't usually concerned about propriety and thinks nothing of assuming the lease of his late great-aunt's half of the family town house for his ladybird. But that half of the house had been bequeathed to Nell Hetherington, whom Dev remembers as a hoydenish brat from his soldiering days in the Peninsula. Only Nell isn't a brat any longer--she's an attractive, fiercely independent young lady who summarily evicts Dev's ladybird and opens a school for "Young Brides of His Majesty's Officers" in her half of the house. The bold young miss even has plans to take over his half as well!

'Devil' Mackenzie is appalled. Such outrageous schemes! Such lack of propriety! What can he do but protect Nell from her own folly? And what better way than take her part of the house, by hook or by crook . . . or even in a game of cards.