Olivia Bevelstoke is beautiful and has a substantial dowry; she receives more than her fair share of proposals. But love? She hasn't found it yet. Now that her best friend is also married, Olivia seeks distraction. There's gossip that her new neighbor might have murdered his fiancée, though Olivia doesn't believe it. Still, she decides to spy on him, just to be sure. Hidden behind the curtains, she peers into his office and... discovers an intriguing man who is definitely up to something, but what?
Sir Harry Valentine works at the War Office in London. When he notices a woman spying on him, he's immediately suspicious. Just when he concludes she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers she's engaged to a foreign prince who may be conspiring against England. Harry now starts spying on Olivia and gets his own reasons for stopping the marriage...
In Julia Quinn's well-known writing style and theme. The fun twist is that one of the main characters speaks Russian. This adds a suspenseful and humorous element to the story. The only thing not explored in depth is the bond between Harry and his distant mother, but the one between him and his drunken father is.