Sylvie, orphaned at a young age and adopted by a lady of the Paris opera, becomes a celebrated ballerina. She finds a letter from a Lady Grantham inquiring as to the possibility of Sylvie being her long-lost sister. Sylvie immediately dashes off to England.

To avoid her lover, who's followed her, Sylvie jumps into the packet coach, landing in the arms of Tom Shaughnessy and kisses him passionately. When they are held up by highwaymen, Sylvie's reticule containing all her money, as well as the letter from Lady Grantham, are stolen. Tom offers to help, and eventually, Sylvie is forced to accept his aide.

Shaughnessy is tall, handsome, highly experienced in the seduction of women and the owner of a gentleman's music house. He offers Sylvie a job in his provocative and somewhat raunchy review. This will put a roof over her head, food in her mouth and Tom in her bed, or she in his, if she chooses. It also puts Sylvie in the uncomfortable position of being a baud house dancer instead of a diva.

Both Tom and Sophie have their secrets and, of course, those secrets create some extreme difficulties.

I couldn't put this one down. Tom is the perfect hero, an all-knowing rogue with a well-hidden warmth and sensitivity. Sylvie is a sylph-like firebrand who can't help but respond to his sensual power. This story is very well done.