Prudence Cabot is twenty-two and considered unsuitable for a good marriage due to the scandals caused by two elder sisters, Honor and Grace, both of whom are now married. A friend of Pru's, Cassandra Bulworth, has just had her first child and invites Pru to come for a visit in the country.

Pru has nothing better to do, and accepts the offer. She will be picked up by Dr. Linford and his wife who are going as far as Himple, and there Pru will be met by the Bulworth's coach for the last leg of the journey. Pru arrives at the first pick-up place early and tries to help Roan Matheson, an American gentleman -- a really hunky gentleman -- who has evidently gotten on the wrong public coach and is going the opposite way of his destination. She makes sure he is on the right conveyance and then gets the bright idea of going as far as Himple on the same coach; Pru does leave a message for Dr. Linford.

As fate would have it, assisted by the machinations of Julia London's devious imagination, the coach breaks a wheel midway to Himple; Pru hides when she sees the Linford coach stopping to offer help; and then she gets into an argument with Roan. Long story short, the coach goes on without them and they have quite an adventure getting to Himple on foot. They also become more than strangers.

Pru and Roan know that they can never have a happily ending to their association as there is a wide ocean between them that neither is willing to cross permanently. Roan is only in England to find his younger sister and get her home to her fiancée; Roan also needs to get back to America to his affianced also. Pru knows she can never care for a man as deeply as she does Roan as resigns herself to being a spinster.

Master wordsmith Julia London takes the reader on a wonderful journey filled with laughter and heartache. THE SCOUNDREL AND THE DEBUTANTE is an entertaining tale featuring splendid characters; clever dialogue; and amusing story threads. Ms. London shows her love for family in the titillating plots she has created for The Cabot Sisters.