When the Earl of Althorpe dies, his daughter Julia is horrified to learn that the new earl is an American. Her father has left their estate, Stoverton, burdened with enormous debt, and the only good news about the new earl is that he's a millionaire. Julia's hope is that he will bail out the estate and go back home to America, leaving her to run Stoverton, as she always has.
Evan Marshall, the new earl, has no use for the British, and certainly does not want to be an English earl. However, he finds not only has he inherited enormous debts, but he is now the guardian of two girls-Julia and her younger sister Maria.
On the advice of his aunt, he agrees to give Julia a London Season so she can catch a husband and take care of Maria. Then he'll be able to go home to America, where he belongs.
Nothing goes according to either of these very determined people's plans.