The time has come for strong-willed Evangeline Fairfax to leave her position as governess to the Chase children so she can oversee the founding of a new charity school. But the children's father, mill-owner Jasper Chase has made no effort to hire a replacement. Evangeline decides to take matters into her own hands by finding her employer a wife.

Jasper is livid when he discovers Evangeline has organized a house party and invited several eligible young women. Vexed as he is with her meddling, Jasper finds himself enjoying the party and suddenly aware of Evangeline's beauty and charm. He agrees to cooperate with her matchmaking efforts if she will give him lessons in courting.

Evangeline's opinion of her employer changes entirely when she overhears the guests discussing his business - a bold initiative to prove that he can make a profit while providing his workers a decent life. Knowing how hard he works for such an admirable cause makes Evangeline appreciate what a dynamic, intelligent and ruggedly attractive man Jasper is. As his courting lessons progress, Evangeline begins to doubt that any of the other ladies will make Jasper and his children the kind of wife and mother they deserve.

Jasper concludes there is only one woman he wants to marry, but how can he ask Evangeline to give up a mission in life that means as much to her as his does to him?