Maddie doesn’t have dreams. She has plans.

Finally, after weeks of hard work, the painting she’s going to present to the Royal Women’s Academy of Art is finished. The next step? She’ll get a fellowship to study at the academy, become one of the few female artists in the British Empire, and live happily ever after.

Her mother abhors the idea of her daughter being an artist—how vulgar! But the fellowship will grant six thousand pounds per year to Maddie.

When eccentric Lord Hector ruins her precious painting and injures her hand—by accident, of course—she’s furious at first, distraught later. She lost the opportunity to receive the fellowship and maybe ever paint again because of Hector’s clumsiness.

As one of the youngest earls in the empire, Brandon doesn’t find true friends easily. Everyone wants something from him—favours, money, help. So when he meets Emily on the Flying Scotsman, she wins him with her honesty and charm. The fact they have the same taste in books doesn’t hurt either.

England, 1884

An earthquake brings Cora and Ethan close. Literally.

They find themselves trapped together under an altar in a half-collapsed church. With nothing better to do but wait for the rescue party to free them, they form a bond of friendship and shared secrets.

England, 1882
Keith, a servant in a rich house, feels nothing but gratitude for the Sharpe family. They rescue him from a miserable life and welcome him into their home, and Miss Violante Sharpe teaches him how to read. She’s so kind and pretty that he can’t help but fall for her.

England, 1887

After a near-death experience in the Theatre Royal fire, Angeline wants to find love and have a family. But her mother has other plans. Marriage is overrated. Power is the only thing that matters.

Angeline is supposed to follow in her mother’s steps: become the mistress of many rich lords, collect compromising material on them, blackmail them, and make a lot of money. That’s the recipe for a happy life.

Not for Angeline.

England, 1887
After a near-death experience in the Theatre Royal fire, Angeline wants to find love and have a family. But her mother has other plans. Marriage is overrated. Power is the only thing that matters.

Angeline is supposed to follow in her mother’s steps: become the mistress of many rich lords, collect compromising material on them, blackmail them, and make a lot of money. That’s the recipe for a happy life.

Not for Angeline.

London 1887

My name is Asia Quicksilver, and my life has never been a bed of roses.
Well, I spent a lot of time in bed, but not to sleep. As a prostitute at the luxurious brothel De Luna House, I’ve seen a lot of action in the bedsheets. Not that I’m planning to solicit myself forever. Once I set aside enough pounds to move out of London, I’ll start afresh.