When the 9th Duke of Sudeleigh discovers that his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is the clandestine author of a scandalous editorial, he hatches a plan to bring the feisty young woman to heel. He will secretly send her off to an arranged marriage so that she might better concentrate her efforts on hearth and home instead of the spreading of contrary ideas. But a mishap with her carriage en route brings headstrong Elizabeth a chance to foil her father's plans. Douglas Dubh MacKinnon, an annoyingly handsome Highlander will provide her with the perfect riposte. What Elizabeth doesn't consider is that in these turbulent political times, she, too, might offer Douglas something in return: a convenient means of securing his birthright--as well as the ideal disguise when the opportunity to save a prince on the run arises, leaving them both to wonder just who is the true Pretender after all?