Lisa Carlson's life takes a sudden twist in the third A Maid for All Seasons novel. Darcy Weller, Lisa's friend and mentor, dies in an auto accident and bequeaths Lisa a chain of clothing shops, with Michael Swayne, Lisa's employer, as trustee. Darcy's strict leadership helped Lisa to concentrate, but now even Mr. Swayne's old-fashioned correction methods fail to keep her focused on her job and university education. She becomes moody and argumentative, spoiled by unaccustomed wealth, so Mr. Swayne insists she attend Professor Travis's private college for pampered young ladies. The last thing Lisa wants is another class, especially one where rules are enforced with palm, paddle, and slipper on bare schoolgirl bottoms, but Mr. Swayne convinces her to go. Despite her misgivings, Lisa finds new friends at the college who have similar interests, as well as a similar inability to stay out of trouble, and together they endure the indignity, the sting, and the complicated emotions aroused by the handsome professor's antiquated discipline.