Leighton Stone, Earl of Longbridge, is used to danger. His years as a code breaker in Wellington's army have been filled with it, but all he wants at the end of the Peninsular War is to return to his estate and marry his childhood sweetheart, Maddie Westlake.

Maddie is not a typical parson's daughter. She is weary of having to scheme against her parsimonious father to take care of Leighton's tenants, and she is tired of being taken for granted. When Leighton finally tracks her to the city of Bath he realizes he must woo her. Since he never trusted her with his secrets she does not trust him with her future.

Music and memories draw the pair together while secret codes and conniving relatives almost split this engaging couple. Then they are drawn into a bizarre spy plot that only Maddie can solve.