Years ago, Lady Catherine Mabry spied the devil across the ballroom where he caught her imagination. Now Catherine sneaks into his home away from prying eyes to ask him a favor. Catherine needs him to kill a man. Her best friend, Winnie has undergone a transformation from vivacious young woman to a quivering scared woman. Her lofty husband beats her unmercifully. No court in the land will interfere and Catherine has no allies. Her father withers away from a stroke that leaves him paralyzed and without speech. Catherine's estranged brother roams the continent with no interest in returning home. Only the devil can help her.

Lucian Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne, sordid past ostracizes him from society. Society does not view him as the real heir to the title. Lucian was one of the many street children trained by a mentor for thieving. After murdering a man, Lucian grandfather found him at Newgate ready to go to the gallows. His grandfather took one look at his silver eyes and declared him the lost child of his murdered son. Rescued from the gallows, Lucian received the old man's love and accepted the title. Society never accepts him. When Catherine approaches him with her offer, he counters. If she will help the woman he loves with the social graces she lacks he will kill for her.

Catherine has second thoughts after discovering the Lucian's true nature. He could lose the rest of his tortured soul if he kills again. Can she let that happen to Lucian in order to save her friend? Which one does she sacrifice?

Ms. Heath takes inspiration from Dicken's OLIVER TWIST in her latest engaging tale. Her group of grown street thieves taught by Feagan and reformed by Lucian's grandfather will provide many fascinating future stories.

Book Summary

They call him the Devil Earl — a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything — even strike a bargain with the devil himself.

Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.