Evie Nicholson is an assistant to Max who owns an antique shop in London. While Max's interest is the cash, Evie's is entirely the history of the antiques. Her sister Alice's boyfriend, Fraser, is family to the McAndrews family who owns Kettlesheer, a castle near the Scottish border. The family, struggling financially, invites Evie to appraise the wealth of the heirlooms at Kettlesheer in hopes of selling some to pay expenses.

Evie appraises more than the antiques when she meets the future heir, Robert, with all his moodiness and reluctance regarding the eventual inheritance. Coerced into filling in for her sister by attending the annual Scottish Reeling Ball with Fraser, learning the traditional dance draws Evie and Robert closer. Finding the notebooks of the late Violet McAndrews, the history completely intrigues Evie and her love of the past consumes her. Expecting Robert to follow tradition and propose to a local woman at the gala, Evie hides her broken heart and goes back to London. Evie is again pining for that perfect and romantic love.

The history Evie reveals from the notebooks left behind by Violet are very meticulous and completely absorbs Evie in the past. A gangly, tall woman, Evie comes across as insecure and clumsy until she is transformed at the gala event by being caught up in the music and dancing. Evie lives in total chaos and clutter with her prized possessions from the past, and this lends a humorous side to the story which I thoroughly enjoyed.