cholar, wanderer, and reluctant magnet for trouble, Lord Cecil Greybourne has almost finished his latest book-an exposé on the corrupt world of Regency art-when thieves attempt to steal his manuscript. It's time to vanish again-though, this time, not without the clever assistant who lost his position because of Grey. Discovering said assistant is female. shocks and engages his dangerous curiosity. Eleanor Leonard, the educated daughter of teachers, is tired of disguising herself as a man to work for scholars like Grey. Grey's invitation to visit his artist cousin in the small town of Gravesyde offers an opportunity Eleanor and her twin brother can't refuse. Appallingly, they discover a corpse at their new lodging before they even move in. The shocking news spreads rapidly, exposing Grey's presence to his enemies.

The accidents that have haunted his life not only resume, but escalate. Grey is resigned to the risk, only this time, it's not just him in peril, but his too-perceptive assistants, who refuse to leave a mystery unsolved. Now that others are endangered, Grey must end the violence before more people die-intentionally or not.