Description
Eliza Price, daughter of the Duke of Hertfordshire, finds herself entangled in a web of suitors, rejecting one potential partner after another. A marriage with the esteemed Duke of Kent appears to be her path forward, until an enigmatic figure, Mr. Magician, captivates her heart. Not only does he possess an irresistible charm, but he stands as the sole gentleman in all of London who dares to resist her allure. Meanwhile, the Marquess St. Arcey, perceiving Eliza as the embodiment of a femme fatale, cannot bear the thought of her belonging to another. His ardent pursuit of her heart and hand further complicates matters. To exacerbate the predicament, the fate of Eliza's family fortune hangs precariously in the balance. The crucial documents that substantiate their ancestral estates and noble title are hidden within a chest, found by the royal historian. Tragically, the historian meets an untimely demise, and the chest mysteriously vanishes, leaving all clueless about its whereabouts. The historian's demise summons the long-standing rivals of the Price family - the Grays - who descend upon London with their agenda. Amongst them is the haughty Lord Daniel Gray, driven by a deep-seated desire for retribution stemming from an ancient transgression that saw his family's property pass into the hands of the Prices. His presence in Eliza's life becomes an omen of unfortunate events, marked by searing insults unleashed each time their paths cross. Will Eliza navigate this maelstrom of emotions and choices to find her ultimate happiness? And who shall claim the chest concealing the Price family's fortunes? The answers lie within the endless dance of fate, as Eliza's journey unfolds against the backdrop of Georgian society, where love, rivalry, and the pursuit of ancestral legacies intertwine in unexpected ways. TRIGGER WARNING: MATURE CONTENT! Awards: AMBYS 2023 WINNER | Romance Reads 2024 Honorable Mention