Eve and Drusilla became friends at school, each other's only friend, because Drusilla's father is in trade and Eve's mother was notorious for being beautiful but also mad. Now they are in London for the season, but neither is attracting any attention, Eve because others think she will be as mad as her mother and Drusilla because although she is an heiress, she had a sharp tongue. She is also attracted to Eve's step brother Gabriel, but they mostly fling sharp verbal barbs at each other, until she is found in a compromising position meant for Eve and he comes to her rescue.