Summary
Trapped in the brutal grip of a violent, alcoholic foster father and the squalor of the slums, Sheila Godwin, a mere maid, sees only one desperate path to freedom: deception. She volunteers for an audacious, deadly charade – to impersonate a countess and journey to the desolate North. Her mission? To become the fourth wife of the notoriously lecherous Duke Alcott, a man whose reputation precedes him. But Sheila isn’t going to be another victim; her wedding gift to the Duke is a carefully planned poison, a final act of defiance to secure her escape. Will her audacious gamble pay off, or will her lies unravel before she can claim her freedom? Read chapter 1 to uncover her fate!