For the important occasion of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Captain St. Vincent Halfhyde is to be temporarily separated from his gamine Australian companion, Miss Victoria Penn. His mission: to aid in the preparations for the Queen's review of the British Fleet, specifically by acting as a buffer for the irascible and unpredictable Admiral Watkiss.
Halfhyde and the Admiral are long-time-and reluctant-acquaintances; it is Halfhyde's brief to escort, distract, detain, and do whatever else is necessary to keep Watkiss out of trouble during Her Majesty's presence. As if Miss Victoria Penn's protests and perturbations weren't trouble enough.