Roberta Campbell is a well-educated 'daughter of the Manse' in a small Perthshire town in the late nineteenth century. The post of Governess to the attractive daughters of local gentry arises and the challenge tempts her. When the girls' behaviour deteriorates, however, Roberta has no hesitation in handing out strict punishment, putting both strap and cane to good use. And when the girls' brother returns home from boarding school he too finds that his bottom is soon smarting from the sting of her cane.

Later, in her mid-forties, Roberta inherits some money and decides it is time to retire. However, she is tempted out of retirement when a Duke asks her to discipline his three daughters, he being unable to do so at present having recently broken his arm. She has no difficulty in meting out punishment to the girls but is astonished when the Duke asks her to thrash his own wife, the Duchess...