Rich and dashing British Naval Captain Jack Absolute has fallen in love with American heiress Lydia Larkspur. But Lydia is in love with a romantic fantasy: she wants to elope with some penniless artist and live in “charming poverty.” Jack masquerades as a poor English composer named Waverley and wins her heart; Lydia's aunt and guardian, the famously verbose Mrs. Malaprop, will not hear of it. She and Jack's father, both unaware that “Waverley” is Jack, decide that Lydia should marry the real Jack. Jack – now his own rival – has a big problem: how to reveal his true identity to Lydia without losing her.