Nicholas Rokesby, the fourth son of an earl, has spent much of his adult life trying to find his own place in the world. When he's suddenly called home from his medical studies in Edinburgh, the last thing he expects is to be told that Georgiana Bridgerton, his childhood neighbour and the younger sister of his best friend Edmund Bridgerton, had been abducted. She managed to get herself free but her reputation is in tatters. The only thing that will save her, Nicholas's father tells him, in the eyes of the ton is if Nicholas marries her.

Nicholas is speechless; she is like a sister to him - but ultimately, he agrees. Georgie is equally resistant but eventually she accepts Nicholas's proposal. As Nicholas and Georgie start their lives together in Edinburgh, they learn more about themselves, each other, and start feeling a connection. Could the girl from his childhood be the love of his life? Will they actually get their happily ever after?