Vinnie Miner, a spinsterish, no-nonsense college teacher from New England, hopes to do plenty of reading on her trans-Atlantic flight to Europe. But Vinnie spends the entire nine hours trying to politely evade the talkative Chuck Mumpson's non-stop chit-chat.

When they finally land in London, Vinnie goes her way to begin an extended research project at Oxford Library and Chuck just goes away--or so she hopes. But to Vinnie's disbelief, and distress, Chuck seems to show up wherever she goes.

Their mutual acquaintance with Rosemary Radley - a volatile actress who plunges into a steamy affair with Vinnie's young colleague, Fred Turner - leads to a series of chance meetings. Their well-meaning friends even attempt to be match-makers - but Chuck is the last person in the world Vinnie wants to get involved with. Travelling, however, can be full of romantic surprises.