Edward Dalton, the new Duke of Langsdale, must soon take a wife to ensure the hereditary line. A young war widow seems the perfect choice. She is charming, well respected with impeccable character, and her connections to the Tonβs most important people is an asset he canβt ignore. But Edward is intrigued by another widow. The mysterious, hauntingly beautiful Lady Wayte.
Cassandra Wayte could not be a more unsuitable match. She isnβt received by polite society, and her notorious dealings with Londonβs underclass is the talk of nobility from Whiteβs patrons to the most fashionable hostesses. Itβs even whispered she murdered her elderly husband. But Edward sees a different side of the tragic lady, and he determines to discover the secrets tormenting her. As he peels away the layers of her resistance, he discovers a malevolent adversary stalking Lady Wayte and exposes a level of depravity that shocks even his war-hardened sensibilities. Can he win her trust and her heart? And at what cost to the dukedom?
As Cassandraβs relentless search for her husbandβs murderer exposes both her and Edward to unseen dangers, all they can rely on is their love for each other and their faith in God.