High-born Meg Hayward averts poverty by stitching and hand-painting trifles for the ton, until her exquisite copy of an antique fan is mistakenly sold as the original to the righteous Earl of Wakefield. Resentful of his notion that she swindled him, Meg nevertheless agrees to redecorate his conservatory at Wakefield Hall. Until the handsome lord's attentions make her eager to finish it and escape.