Miss Olivia Nelson has never done anything reckless in her life. Determined to be the perfect young lady amongst a field of wild Barringtons, Olivia strives for politeness. Modesty. Restraint. But when Lady Phaedra Barrington declares her to be boring and goads her into venturing to Elysium, Olivia reluctantly agrees. Elysium, part gambling hell and part pleasure palace isn’t the sort of establishment Olivia should ever visit. Her future includes paying calls, taking sedate walks in the park and marriage to a proper, somewhat boring gentleman hand-picked by her grandfather. When a handsome stranger nearly ravishes her on Elysium’s second floor, Olivia is thrilled to have done something daring. Until she finds the same man seated across from her at the Duke of Averell’s dinner table. Winking at her. A proper gentleman, one with an ounce of decorum, would pretend not to recognize her. But Mr. Benjamin Cooke, Olivia soon finds out, is definitely not a gentleman. He’s ruthless. Unprincipled. Brilliant. Attractive. And worst of all, American. Cooke wants Olivia with a determination that is as thrilling as it is terrifying. Now Olivia is faced with an impossible decision. Will she be bound by duty? Or sacrifice everything to follow her heart?