It is the first ball of the season, hosted at Lady Danbury's mansion, and Benedict, dragged along by his dear mother, finds himself lingering at the sidelines of the dance floor, desperately trying to avoid being drawn into another dull conversation with one of the many debutantes or their mamas.

He is about to push through the crowd in search of refreshments when suddenly he looks up and his world stops entirely. Between the dancing couples, standing on the other side of the ballroom, he sees her: the most captivating woman he has ever laid his eyes upon.