The plot is simple: Lady Susan, a clever and ruthless widow, determines that her daughter is going to marry a man who is detested by both of them. Lady Susan sets her own sights on her sister-in-law's brother, all the while keeping an old affair simmering on the back burner.

But people refuse to play the roles they are assigned and in the end her daughter gets the sister-in-law's brother, the old affair runs out of steam and all that is left for Lady Susan is the man intended for her daughter, the one neither can abide!