Shy, sensible Lily Crawford fears her vivacious twin sister will wed a fortune-hunting aristocrat, who might bankrupt their late father’s business and leave them penniless. Lily urges Iris to consider her devoted admirer Captain Aaron Turner, who won an invitation to the party in a high-stakes card game. The captain is reliable, resourceful and ruggedly handsome, but Iris has her heart set on being a titled lady, not the wife of disreputable privateer.
Having made his fortune on the high seas, Aaron Turner is now ready to settle down and gain social acceptance by winning the beautiful, sought-after Iris Crawford. After she rebuffs his advances, Aaron enlists her sister to help him woo the reluctant heiress. As Lily gets to know the captain, she grows increasingly certain that he is the perfect man for her sister. When Iris falls ill, Lily takes her sister’s place at the party to give Aaron Turner the proper encouragement. But she soon finds herself falling in love with the dashing captain who is determined to marry her sister. If Lily’s masquerade is uncovered, the scandal could ruin three futures and break more than one heart. Can she find the courage to step out of her sister’s shadow to claim the man of her dreams?