“Your pleasure is my pleasure, Miss Fairhurst.” Sir Ragnor Withersby to Miss Judith Fairhurst, in a cupboard, the British Museum, London 1817 A skill at cards is not usually part of a young lady’s repertoire. An astounding skill at piquet? Unheard of. Yet here’s Miss Judith Fairhurst, a natural at the game, facing renowned expert Sir Ragnor Withersby across the table—and thoroughly defeating him. Their first hand arouses his interest, their first kiss arouses a lot more, and elegant man-about-town Sir Ragnor is about to find out what it’s like to tumble headfirst off a dangerous cliff into unknown waters. There will be gambling, of course. Potential scandals, cheats and revelations will abound. There will be new friends, sculptures, a strange decanter of brandy and a very nice bottom. Perhaps Fate has set their feet on a path to pleasure, but not all their steps will be smooth. Some games must be very carefully played…

Miss Rose Glynde-Beauchamp is both charming and intelligent, but not quite in the highest tier of London's most eligible young ladies. Her mama, however, is determined to see Rose married well, whether she likes it or not, and that means the threat of Almack's rather than the fun of the Wednesday Club. For an unusually gifted young lady like Rose, it's a potential nightmare hanging over her head. Enter Lord Miles Linfield, whose mama is also on a similar marriage-rampage. Commiserating with Rose, Miles hatches a convenient plan that will save them both from endless maternal nagging. They discover a shared interest in music, which takes them down an unexpected path to a few surprises. They must solve a theft, get soaked to the skin, deal with a very unusual m�nage, wear outrageous clothing and rescue a wayward copyright from greedy hands. Rose has to let go of some erroneous notions, and Miles must try and control some of his. Was Shakespeare right? Is music truly the food of love? That may well depend on just how hungry one is when the right melody comes along...