A Deceptive Bargain

Hiding from the horrors of her past, Martha Haskett is content living her days serving as a lady's maid to her friend Eliza. But then her father, the new Earl of Waterford, shows up, with the shocking news that she is now a titled lady. Further turning her life upside down, he proposes a bargain. She will have a single Season in London, and if she does not marry by the end of the Season, she will be gifted with her dowry and a small estate. Despite her mistrust of her father, Martha accepts his offer, but can't seem to let go of the anger that has been festering inside of her. Dr. Emmett Maddix is tired of the frivolity of the ton and spends his time atoning for his past sins by providing medical care to the poor. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is recruited to be an agent of the Crown. He is assigned to run a charity hospital as a front to collect information about a vicious band of smugglers known as The Cursed Lot, who have managed to overtake the town of Gravesend with a reign of murder and oppression. As Emmett delves further into The Cursed Lot's domain, he quickly discovers that not everything is what it seems. While the tangled web of intrigue begins to unravel, Martha and Emmett battle an undeniable attraction. With more than just their hearts at stake, surviving the mission will be more difficult than either of them could ever imagine.