London 1816
Returning home through a sticky London summer night, Captain Gabriel Lacey is surprised to spy a well-dressed, elegant woman stride to the middle of an unfinished bridge over the Thames. Following her in curiosity, Lacey is on hand to rescue her from an attack by a footpad.
He discovers that she is one Lydia Westin, wife of Colonel Roehampton Westin, who has recently been accused of murdering an English officer in Portugal during the Peninsular War. Before Westin could come to trial, however, he was found dead at the foot of the staircase in his own house.
Lydia, to Lacey's surprise, declares he was murdered and that she knows the culprits' identities. Intrigued, Lacey begins to investigate, and soon finds himself mired in scandals past and present, with a journalist dogging his footsteps, eager to print Lacey's latest adventure.
Lacey also becomes embroiled with Lydia, a lady with many secrets, and with James Denis, who continues his quest to bring Lacey under his thumb.
Book 2 of the Captain Lacey Regency mysteries. This is a full-length novel.
