The Inventor's Ring

Princess Ileana Victoria Adelaide, Princess Royal, is the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and back home from her finishing school. Her head is full of all the modern sensibilities of progress. Unfortunately, her mother does not share her enthusiasm. Instead of talking development and new inventions, built to improve humanity, the Queen starts the dreaded discussion of her daughter’s marriage – and to a complete stranger! Ileana is disgusted with the very notion of purchased love. Thankfully her father comes up with a compromise. If she can find a husband at the masked ball, then she can choose her husband for herself. Simple, right?

It is still detestable, but a necessary evil. If only she could fall in love with the inventor she meets high up on the sky terrace. Alistair Gordon is rugged, handsome, charming and unbeknownst to her, penniless. Ileana is smitten by his intelligence and rough exterior. He, however, has no idea the lovely young lady is the crowned princess. Their love could prove problematic, especially considering he is caught with an arsenal powerful enough to blow up London and called a traitor to the crown.

Whether he was set up or guilty is something Ileana must decide for herself before the coup to take over the crown throws England into a Steam-powered civil war.