The lovely Emily, who is in mortal danger, is forced, disguised as a young man, to enter the service of the lonely Duke of Ashland, a hero of the Napoleonic Wars, under the guise of a home teacher for his teenage son. At first, the girl is panicky afraid of the stern master, but very soon her fear turns into timid curiosity, and curiosity is not far from tender feelings. However, sooner or later, the Duke recognizes in the young mentor a mysterious beauty who has won his heart and given him hope for new happiness...