Eliza Summersby does what she must to survive. With nimble fingers and a sharp mind, she navigates the dangerous streets of London, picking pockets to make ends meet. But when she is caught red-handed by a Piccadilly toff, Eliza knows to beat a hasty retreat. Desperation leads her to slip into a passing carriage, where she comes face to face with a mysterious stranger.
Sir Mark van Bergen knows a thing or two about taking risks. As the youngest director of the Bank of England, he has built his career on savvy instincts and calculated gambles. Yet harboring a petty criminal in his carriage is a risk even he hadn’t anticipated. Will he prove to be Eliza’s refuge or a one-way trip to Scotland Yard?
As Eliza and Mark’s worlds collide, they find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways. Her quick wit and resilience intrigue Mark, while his kindness and protective nature awaken feelings Eliza thought she had long buried. However, trust is fragile—especially when secrets threaten to tear them apart.
In a city where danger lurks around every corner and loyalty is hard-won, can two souls from opposite worlds defy the odds and forge a future together?
Allyson Jeleyne is a writer of bold, passionate historical romance featuring kind heroes, complex heroines, and steamy love. She earned an interdisciplinary studies degree in Creative Writing and Journalism while also studying British history & literature in her spare time. When not writing, she enjoys traveling and checking things off her bucket list.
Allyson makes her home in the South Carolina lowcountry with her beloved dog, Dollie Madison (2005-2022).