Mr. Earl Massey’s best friend—who is still accustoming himself to the title of Lord Jeremy Thompson—has finished his six months of mourning and finally married Miss Sophie Peters, a sweet girl who proved herself worthy by waiting through said six months. Massey is overjoyed to see the end of his six-month service as messenger complete and is looking forward to celebrating his freedom by joining his family in Yorkshire for Christmas.
Miss Cynthia Peters, Sophie’s younger cousin, is also overjoyed. After six months of enduring Massey’s company and pretending to be his sweetheart, she is looking forward to celebrating her freedom by having an entire box of chocolate drops to herself.
Then Massey receives a letter demanding Cynthia and her parents join him in Yorkshire, and they embark on a cramped carriage ride—to what Cynthia considers a frozen Hell—to explain to his parents that their charade was just that, and they are of no mind to marry.
Lady Massey thinks the country air brings out the best in everyone, however, and she hopes Cynthia will realize that marrying the viscount’s son is not such a dreadful idea…