Grace's earliest memories are of being shunned and overlooked by her family. She never meets their expectations, from her red hair and tall stature to her lack of ladylike behaviour; everything about Grace condemns her in the eyes of her family. Denied a season of her own, Grace discovers that her sister, Amy, is to be presented to society. Her parents refuse Grace to accompany them, fearing that her appearance will jeopardise Amy's hope of a good match.
Resigned to her spinster status, Grace looks for a distraction to help keep her occupied while her family is away. When she tutors children from the local village, she finds a champion in Reverend Simon Blake and his housekeeper, Mrs Edwards.
The reverend and his housekeeper, appalled at Grace's treatment by her family, play matchmaker, and Grace meets Miles Blakemore, the Duke of Hampton. As the relationship grows, Grace fears that her family's return may cause problems between her and the duke. Her fears come to fruition and she and Miles face challenges neither expected to encounter. Can the couple overcome their difficulties, or is Grace doomed to be the spinster her family predicted?