Love Is a Ball

Etienne Pimm runs a discreet, profitable scheme that arranges marriages between impoverished aristocrats and wealthy outsiders. He collects a commission in return for orchestrating these matches. This shadowy business sets the financial and social stage for what follows on the Riviera.

Pimm and his assistant Janine set their sights on Milly Mehaffey, who has just arrived on the Riviera. They begin grooming her intended future husband by hiring three specialists to train him: a manners tutor, a race-driving coach, and a renowned chef. The aim is to transform the penniless Grand Duke Gaspard into a convincing match for Milly.

Julian Soames, a retired Oxford academic, is recruited to polish Gaspard's manners and language. Weeks of intensive training leave the Grand Duke socially polished and ready for Milly's circle. Pimm uses this transformation to set the stage for social introductions.

John Lathrop Davis, a multi-time racing champion, is hired to instruct Gaspard in competitive driving. His coaching focuses on confidence behind the wheel and a dash of daring. The driving tutor becomes a crucial part of the duke's conversion into a gallery-friendly suitor.

Maurice Zoltan, the world-renowned chef, is enlisted to prepare memorable meals for the household. His culinary prowess is meant to impress guests like Dr. Gump and to create an aura of sophistication around the duke. The kitchen becomes a theater for Pimm's carefully staged plan.

Pimm 'accidentally' encounters Milly's guardian, Dr. Christian Gump, and invites him to a dinner prepared by Zoltan. Gump cannot resist a gourmet meal and is rapidly introduced to the handsome, well-trained duke. The dinner bonds the household to the duke and advances the matchmaking scheme.

Encouraged by Gump, Pimm arranges a party where the duke accompanies Milly and the social circle begins to see a potential match. The plan is to nudge Milly toward romance with Gaspard, though other feelings are quietly stirring. The party accelerates the evolving love dynamics around Milly.

Priory, another of Pimm's minions, is hired as the chauffeur to spy on Milly's family. His role is to gather intel that can be used to steer the romance. The plan is quietly set in motion behind the scenes.

An errant polo ball strikes Priory's arm, forcing him out of commission. Davis steps in to take his place, bringing a new dynamic to the driving coaching and the interactions with Milly. The shift alters how the story’s relationships unfold on the field and beyond.

As they spend more time together, Milly's initial skepticism toward Davis softens and genuine affection begins to bloom. Davis remains wary of Milly's racing ambitions, but their chemistry deepens. The romance with Gaspard lags, complicating the matchmaking scheme.

Pimm suggests a romantic night for Milly and the duke at his private villa to seal the match. Milly agrees to a different pairing, spending the night with Davis instead. The episode exposes the fragility of the scheme and the complications of affection.

The next morning Milly learns the truth—the planned match was not what it seemed. Pimm confesses that Davis was not the intended groom, leaving Milly outraged and questioning the entire arrangement. The revelation drives a quick pivot in her romantic choices.

In a bid for revenge, Milly resolves to marry an oafish suitor named Freddie. The plan to resist Pimm’s manipulation pushes Milly toward a rash, impulsive marriage option. The social machinery shudders at the prospect.

On her wedding day, Milly's grandmother Mathilda convinces her to reconcile with Davis. The family matriarch's intervention recalibrates Milly's affections. The Duke's plan unravels, and a new, simpler happy ending emerges with Davis.

Gaspard has fallen for Janine, ending his romance with Milly in the expected comic fashion. Milly reconciles with Davis, and the triangle resolves with Janine's match in the background. The social circle ends with two couples in place and Pimm's scheme achieving mixed results.