Emma Heatherstone overhears her uncle offering her to an old man in exchange for some debt relief. Emma forges a reference for herself and goes to Yorkshire as Mrs. Brimley to teach at a school for young ladies. When she arrives, she learns that she will not only be teaching literature. Emma is expected to instruction the young ladies in all they need to know to prepare them for marriage and keeping their husbands happy in the bedroom.

Lord Nicholas Chambers, commonly referred to as Lord Bedchamber is in Yorkshire attempting to paint something that will be accepted by the Royal Academy. He first meets Mrs. Brimley when his carriage picks her up at the train station to carry her to the school.

When she shows up at his home unexpectedly, Emma is mistaken for the bar maid he hired to pose for a painting. Emma is shocked but makes a deal that for every question Nicholas answers to help her teach her class, Emma will remove an article of clothing. Eventually, she agrees to pose for Nicholas.

When the painting is finished, Nicholas has learned something about Emma. He knows that she is hiding from her uncle and he decides that he can't expose Emma to the scandal that her modeling would cause.

Through a series of events, Nicholas' painting is proclaimed the hit of the summer show and Emma's hiding place is exposed. When Nicholas learns the truth of what happened, he realizes that he must protect Emma from her uncle's nefarious plans. Nicholas has learned that because of Emma he is a better man and artist than he had ever been before. The love they share will lead him to alter his previously selfish lifestyle.

This is the authors first book. The growth of the hero and heroine more than compensated for the annoyance I sometimes felt with Emma for her wishy-washy attitude towards Nicholas when she first sought his help. As we learn more about her life prior to coming to Yorkshire, she becomes a much more sympathetic character. Her gradual awareness that the reputation Nicholas has built is really a result of his unhappiness with his family and their insistence that he give up his art, helps her see past the facade and into the vulnerable man who doubts his abilities and talents. As their relationship progresses and changes, I found myself caught up in the story and rooting for both of them.

The excerpt of her second book left me wanting even more. I look forward to Ms. MacMeans second endeavor with anticipation.