The second son of a wealthy family, Bertie Calder is used to getting both everything and nothing he wants. His upbringing meant reserve and repression alongside stability. As long as he was discreet, he was able to get up to all the mischief he fancied, including dalliances with Alastair Gow—who is, at present, vexingly enamored with Cromer landlord Paul Apollyon. Will Lucas is Bertie’s opposite, at least when it comes to their social standings. Brought up by a mad butcher, he came of age in criminal circles where survival meant denying all finer feelings. By chance, Bertie befriended him when they were boys and Lucas has spitefully nursed a tendre ever since—even as Bertie manipulated him into a pointless chase for lost gold. Too bad Bertie is determined to have Alastair, and has again coerced Lucas into helping him achieve a mad goal. Yet Bertie's deeply held secrets pose more of a threat than any hired muscle ever could. If Lucas wants to discover whether his tendre will become something more, he'll have to collude with Alastair to protect Paul from Bertie’s own demons…