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Audrie Brendon agrees to swap places with her wealthy schoolmate Ellaline Lethbridge to protect Ellaline's clandestine romance with a French army lieutenant. Bound by gratitude for her teaching post at Madame de Maluet's academy, Audrie prepares to face Ellaline's returning guardian alone. The decision exchanges schoolroom security for an unpredictable charade framed by secret letters and manufactured excuses.
Part 1
Firsthand encounters immediately undermine hand-me-down reputations. Arriving at London's Ritz Hotel, Audrie expects Sir Lionel Pendragon to be a tyrannical dragon, but finds an aristocratic, thoughtful gentleman adapting gracefully to an unexpected fire at his estate. His proposal of an eight-week automobile expedition across England replaces schoolroom confinement with high-society luxury. Observing his noble features, Audrie begins questioning the dark motives attributed to him by his absent ward.
Part 2
Launching a motor tour in the golden Mercédès car named Apollo redefines travel from tedious transit to active exhilaration. Leaving Piccadilly behind, the party sweeps past historic Surrey sites, Box Hill, and literary haunts under Sir Lionel's steady hand on the wheel. The exotic presence of the Bengali mechanic Charu Chunder Bose highlights the modern novelty of the machine. The sheer momentum of the open road pushes mounting anxieties over identity and detection into the background.
Part 3
Standing atop the Portsmouth Downs overlooking historic coastal waters, Sir Lionel feels the heavy weight of forty years alongside a young rival. The arrival of Dick Burden introduces an irritating modern demeanor that makes Sir Lionel acutely self-conscious of his own age. Historic landscapes like Winchester Cathedral and ancient ruins provide a grand backdrop for quiet envy and internal tension. Perplexed by his ward's contradictory signals, he retreats into guarded observation.
Part 4
Gliding through the ancient glades of the New Forest, the beauty of Beaulieu Abbey and rose-bowered villages creates a serene sanctuary. Even comical incidents, such as Young Nick stealing a specialized tire tool out of misguided zeal for the car, end in lighthearted resolution. Audrie immerses herself in Hampshire's fairy-tale atmosphere, drinking in local history while pushing aside the dread of inevitable exposure. The shared rhythm of travel creates a fragile, enchanting peace.
Part 5
A quiet evening conversation in a moonlit garden becomes a deliberate test of financial intent. When Mrs. Senter hints that her nephew Dick Burden seeks an engagement, Sir Lionel counters by revealing that his ward possesses very little personal wealth. The revelation immediately alters the strategic landscape, exposing how monetary expectations shape romantic pursuit. Sir Lionel's calculated candor aims to shield his ward from fortune hunters while deepening his own emotional frustration.
Part 6
Mrs. Senter orchestrates social maneuvers to clear her own path toward a titled marriage with Sir Lionel. Suspecting that Dick's hold over the young woman relies on secret leverage, she launches inquiries into old family scandals involving Frederic Lethbridge. Her goal is to sideline the young ward as a potential rival while assessing whether any actual wealth remains. Unscrupulous calculation takes center stage beneath the polished veneer of guest etiquette.
Part 7
Manipulative trickery reaches a climax at Tintagel when Mrs. Senter arranges for Audrie to be left behind while Apollo departs. By misdirecting fellow motorists and exploiting delayed schedules, she attempts to force a private reunion between Dick Burden and the stranded girl. The sudden dislocation leaves Audrie feeling isolated and manipulated, stranded amid rain and rocky cliffs. Intrigues designed to control outcomes instead produce anger, disorientation, and shattered trust.
Part 8
Sir Lionel's solitary return trip to retrieve Audrie from Tintagel breaks down barriers of suspicion. Hearing her flat disavowal of any affection for Dick Burden instantly dispels his gloomy despair and reignites his inner vitality. As they journey together through Dunster Castle, Cleve Abbey, and the Quantock Hills, shared appreciation for historical sites replaces lingering doubts. Clear communication allows true romantic affection to take root across ancient landscapes.
Part 9
Inside the soaring vaults of Gloucester Cathedral, Audrie confronts the full truth of the past as revealed by Mrs. Senter. Learning the genuine history of Frederic Lethbridge resolves her confusion over Sir Lionel's past severity, proving his motives were noble all along. The awe-inspiring gothic architecture mirrors her internal clarity, even as her growing respect for him sharpens the pain of her ongoing deception. Knowledge brings moral peace while heightening anxiety over final confession.
Part 10
Seeking shelter from torrential mountain storms at a Welsh inn, Sir Lionel unexpectedly reunites with his veteran alpine guide, Owen Penrhyn. Recalling daring feats of rock climbing at Twll Ddu and Trifaen reveals Sir Lionel's bravery and humble character to those around him. The warmth of old camaraderie contrasts sharply with the howling gale outside. For Audrie, watching his genuine joy reinforces his true worth while highlighting her own impending dilemma.
Part 11
At Newcastle, Audrie firmly rejects Dick Burden's romantic pressure while selling her own keepsakes to send financial support to the real Ellaline. Despite resolving the immediate financial crisis, the encounter leaves Sir Lionel distant and withdrawn due to lingering misunderstandings. Traversing the rugged beauty of the Lake District and the ancient Roman Wall at Cilurnum, Audrie marvels at historic ruins while bracing for the journey's end. Selfless duty triumphs over comfort, even as emotional distance grows.
Part 12
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Part 13
A substitute ward navigates romance, deception, and architectural splendor across an early motor tour of historic England.