**She played the perfect widow.
He returned with the truth that could destroy her.
Together, they'll burn society to the ground.**
London, 1881. Eleanor Winthrop, Duchess of Ashworth, is the picture of propriety-beautiful, composed, and utterly alone in her gilded cage. Two years after her husband's suspicious death, she hosts a memorial ball to mark the end of her mourning... and the beginning of her rebellion.
But when Julian Thorne-her late husband's disgraced protégé and the only man who ever saw *her*, not her title-walks back into her life, Eleanor's carefully constructed facade begins to crack. Soon, they're entangled in a web of opium smuggling, political blackmail, and a secret syndicate known only as *Hermes*-one that silenced her brother and may have killed her husband.
As danger closes in and scandal erupts across London's drawing rooms, Eleanor must choose: preserve her reputation... or risk everything for truth, justice, and a love she never dared imagine.
**From bold new voice Abi Thomas comes a sensual, suspenseful, and fiercely feminist debut that redefines the Victorian romance-where the real scandal isn't desire... it's daring to be free.**
*Perfect for fans of Bridgerton's heat, Sarah MacLean's heroines, and the gothic intrigue of Laura Purcell.*
About the Author :
Abi Thomas is a British author of heartfelt women's fiction, known for her relatable characters and stories rooted in everyday life. A former English teacher from Bristol, she began writing in the quiet hours before school and published her debut novel with a small independent press. She now writes full-time, drawing inspiration from family, coastal walks, and strong cups of tea.
