An innocent virgin enters a brothel to escape starvation and receives expert tutelage in the steamy Victorian parlor games that rakish gentlemen indulge in. . . .
Down to her last pence, former milliner Sarah Chesham seeks kitchen work at Mrs. Erskine's establishment. Instead, she finds herself facing a salon where card matches demand forfeits of stockings and modesty.
When a lecherous politician corners her at the card table, scandal-writer Tom Wilde purchases her time for the month. Yet between daring shadow plays and midnight forfeits, Sarah finds herself falling for the very rogue who paid to keep her.
Leda Swann lives happily on the beach in a small New Zealand community and spends free time boating, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and anything else that involves getting unpleasantly cold and wet on a regular basis.