Just out of the mourning period for her late husband, Baron Cheshire, the still very young and stunningly beautiful Lady Cheshire, the former Viola Bennington-Jones, was ready to kick up her heels and re-join London society. Only 23, her marriage to Lord Henry had lasted only eleven months, but she had produced an heir and the wee lad was her pride and joy.

Viola was not the only one waiting for her to complete the long and expected mourning period. Ian Wentworth, now a respected Duke with tremendous wealth at his disposal, wanted his long held vengeance and the moment he had been eagerly awaiting had finally arrived. Haunted for years by nightmares and shadowy recollections from a drugged induced hostage situation that had left him mentally scarred and the target of gossip from the London ton, he was determined to bring Viola down any way he could. Why had she gotten off scot-free while he suffered as a result of his horrible confinement? Only her two older sisters (one totally mad), had been charged and punished, but not Viola. He knew she had been there and was not innocent. She had done very well for herself, too, and that made Ian's blood boil. Viola was definitely not going to escape his retribution for her evil deeds!

The joy quickly left Viola at the Ball when she spotted Ian Wentworth there with the Duke of Fairbourne. When introduced to him, he didn't seem to know her and only complimented Viola on her reputation as a painter. Could he really not remember all the times she had cared for him, despite her fears of her sisters who didn't want her to help him? How could he have forgotten all the times she bathed him, feed him and keep him warm with her young body?

Though Viola wanted to get away from him at all costs, he managed to get her to commit to painting him. Contact between them would be unavoidable. She had her son to protect and she was going to ensure that Ian could not harm her. What did he really want?

Adele Ashworth has penned a very intriguing sequel to her earlier Victorian novel, A Notorious Proposition in which Ian Wentworth's sister, Ivy, was the heroine. The action is comic and dark, even criminal at times, yet the writing is lively and the interaction between Ian and Viola is rapier sharp while they each privately pondered on the other's perspective. It is a novel hard to read and hard to put down at the same time. Might be best to read both books for the full flavor of this romance!