A rash act, a mistaken identity, and a Christmas surprise... Major Jack Howard, a weary veteran of the Peninsular Wars, has just returned to England and intends to travel to an unwelcoming family home for Christmas. But when a pompous secretary gives him too many orders, Jack hops on the next stagecoach leaving the London inn, not caring where it's going. Too much whisky to stave off freezing leaves him sleeping it off in a different inn-and when an attractive young woman asks if he's Jack Howard, he happily goes home with her. Despite vile weather, Meg Lambert drives to the local inn to collect her brother's friend Jack Howard, but since she's never met the man, she doesn't realize that she's brought home the wrong Jack Howard. Jack realizes her mistake when he awakes the next morning with an aching head-but he finds a warmth and welcome with Meg and her family that he's yearned for all his life. He can't bring himself to admit that he's a cuckoo in her nest-but what will happen when Meg's brother and the right Jack Howard turn up for Christmas?