The second and most practical of five sisters, Alys Binat long ago made peace with her lot in life. A ruinous scandal in the family destroyed their fortune and her prospects for a desireable marriage, but Alys has found happiness teaching English literature to school girls. Knowing that many of her students won't make it to graduation without dropping out to marry and start a family, Alys teaches them about Jane Austen and her other literary heroes and hopes to inspire them to dream of more. When an invitation arrives for the biggest wedding their town has seen in many years, Mrs. Binat excitedly sets to work preparing her daughters, certain that their chance to find eligible bachelors has finally arrived. On the first night of the festivities, Alys's older sister, Jena, catches the eye of one of the most eligible of all. But his friend, Valentine Darsee, is clearly unimpressed by the shamelessly marriage-hungry Binat sisters. Alys accidentally overhears his unflattering assessment of the family, turning her against him and his snobbish ways for good. As the days of wedding parties unfold, the Binats wait breathlessly to see if Jena will land a proposal--and Alys begins to realize that Darsee's brusque manner may be hiding a man she would very much like to get to know.