Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York for her first London season. But no sooner has Frances begun her new life than the Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband's death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she's also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie's demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story. While busy with social engagements on Lily's behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst and Frances must unmask the villain before Lily's season, and their lives, come to a

After spending the obligatory year in mourning for her philandering husband, wealthy young widow Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, takes her young daughter and moves from the English countryside to Victorian London, where she welcomes her sister, Lily, arriving from New York for her first London social season. But when mysterious burglaries start plaguing London's elite and an anonymous tip to the police implicates Frances in her late husband's death, Frances must rally her wits, a circle of gossips, and her dashing new neighbor George Hazelton to uncover the truth.

"In Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures--and scandalous pitfalls--of a London social season as she welcomes her sister from New York for her first London season. When the police receive an anonymous letter implicating her in her husband's death, she begins to wonder if he was murdered, might she be next"--

Wealthy young widow Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, spent the obligatory year in mourning for her philandering husband. With her young daughter in tow, Frances moves from the English countryside and her money-grubbing in-laws to Victorian London, and welcomes her sister, Lily, arriving from New York for her first London social season. When mysterious burglaries start plaguing London's elite, an anonymous tip to the police implicates Frances in her late husband's death. Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and her dashing new neighbor George Hazelton to uncover the truth.