"You are my sister," Louise said. "We share blood," Lucy replied. "That does not change who we are." Cast out by the family who called her mother a mistake and her own existence a burden, Louise has nothing left to lose, until Sebastian Warrington risks everything to prove her wrong. "And yet you stood by," she said, her voice catching, "while my people were spoken of as though they were nothing. I stood outside your father's study three nights ago. I heard what he said, and I heard you answer him. I heard him call people like me chattel and I heard you argue with him for the better part of an hour." Sebastian's grip on her hand tightened. "You spoke well," Louise continued. "You said all the right things," Louise whispered. "But I have spent my whole life listening to men say the right things when they believe no one is listening, only to change their principles when those principles become inconvenient." Her voice trembled. "So tell me, Sebastian. If I am truly the woman you claim to love, what happens the next time your father asks you to choose between me and your name?" Sebastian did not pull away. "I choose you." Louise looked up. "You cannot say that so easily." "I am not saying it easily." His voice was quiet, but there was no hesitation in it. "I have spent years allowing duty, reputation, and expectation to dictate every important decision in my life. I told myself that sacrifice was honourable simply because it was expected of me." He shook his head. "But I will not sacrifice you." Louise's eyes filled with tears. "What if it costs you your title?" "Then it costs me my title." "What if your father turns against you?" "Then I will live with his anger." "What if society turns against you?" Sebastian gave a faint, humourless smile. "Then society may do what it pleases."

The social season of 1813 begins. Among the numerous young ladies is Miss Eleanor Turner and her prospects for this season are abysmal. With no dowry, connections or anything else to recommend her to the eligible gentlemen she'll have to take matters into her own hands.

BOOK I in the Lockwood series The King. No one knows his name nor seen his face. They call him cruel, frightening, and won't show his face to his people. Taking over his father's throne isn't easy and he's expected to find their new queen. But what if he's nowhere to be found? Not in the castle, then he must be in the village. Lady Arabella Houstings, the youngest daughter and the spark of the family. She will do anything to stop her sister from marrying such a filthy man as sir Kingsley. She doesn't like to be told what she shall do and she's not very fond of the king either. She makes it known and it just so happens the king overhears the lady.