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.