When her friend Lady Samantha spies a rather handsome groom from Lady Julia’s second story bedchamber window, Julia Harrington agrees the man is far too handsome to be a groom. “He could be a gentleman,” she tells Sam, thinking the servant could be taught how to bow and dance and dress like a gentleman. Doubting her friend can accomplish such a task, Samantha dares Julia to do just that – and in time for the Mayfield ball – in just three weeks!

Alistair Comber, the second son of the Earl of Aimsley, fought Napoleon's forces on the Continent as an officer in the British Army for three years. Having assured one of his dying soldiers he would see to the man’s widow and children, Alistair returns to England intending to keep the promise. When his father refuses to honor the obligation, however, Alistair is forced to sell his commission to raise the funds. Angered that Alistair would do such a thing, the earl disowns his son. An expert on horses and needing employment and a place to live, Alistair takes a position as a groom at Harrington House. When Lady Julia tells him of her plans to make him into a gentleman for her parents’ ball, Alistair agrees to the plan. After all, how hard can it be when he’s already a gentleman? How hard, indeed!