Moving to her husband's small old-money hometown means living across the street from her mother-in-law and taking over his family's inn-keeping business, but Bess Warner believes it will be the perfect escape from Washington. After losing her White House job under a cloud of scandal, she needs it to be. But fitting in is not easy. Instead of the simpler life, she faces barbed questions from gossipy locals and worries about her twins at the elite private school. When she has an opportunity to write an article for the Washington Post's lifestyle supplement, Bess thinks it might help her find her footing . . . even if the subject is the town's most notorious resident.