After leaving the family estate to the management of his brother, the second son, Lord George Germain, the Dowager Marchioness and her daughters, the Marquis of Brotherton returned from Italy, in the company of an Italian woman and small child who, he said, were his wife and son, the heir Lord Popenjoy. Lord George had married Mary Lovelace, daughter of the Dean of Brotherton Cathedral. At his father-in-law's urging, Lord George investigated the small boy's legitimacy, but found no conclusive evidence for either claim. The boy and his mother soon returned to Italy, where the boy died, thus ending the claim. Soon after, the Marquis also died, and the title went to Lord George. A subplot in this story is Mary Germain's rebellion against her authoritarian husband, George. She is tempted by her worldly friend Adlaide, by the Dean of Brotherton, and by a dashing Guards captain. As she explores the issue, Mary meets various ardent advocates of the Women's Rights movement. Eventually, Mary produces a son, thus settling the estate.