Investigating romantic heroes of the past, American PHD candidate Eloise Kelly has traded Boston for England to complete her research.  The focus of her research is the Scarlet Pimpernel (Sir Percy Blakney) and the Purple Gentian (Lord Richard Selwick), two English heroes of Napoleon era France.  In the library, Eloise comes across a letter dated 1803 with a reference to the Pink Carnation that historians have evidently missed or discounted.  The Pink Carnation was one of the most elusive spies of all time.  It was suggested that the Pink Carnation single handedly prevented Napoleon from invading England.  To discover the identity of the Carnation would be a scholarly coup.

When Eloise is introduced to a descendant of Richard Selwick, she cannot believe her luck.  Arabella Selwick-Alderly is not only in possession of the Purple Gentian’s papers, she is willing to let Eloise have access to them.  Arabella’s nephew, Colin, is not pleased with his aunt giving her unlimited access to family papers, but Eloise prevails.  Eloise soon becomes immersed in the story of Amy Balcourt, an Englishwoman of French descent who goes to France hoping to join the league of the Purple Gentian. In Paris Amy meets the Purple Gentian, who cannot reveal his true identity.  Lord Richard has a very dangerous assignment. He is to infiltrate Napoleon’s plans for an English invasion and to intercept his shipment of gold. Amy, unwittingly, keeps getting in the way of Richard’s plans. She has her own agenda and nothing is going to stop her. That includes falling in love with Lord Richard Selwick and the Purple Gentian. Meanwhile, in the present, Colin Selwick is starting to make Eloise believe that maybe there are modern romantic heroes.