Eliza had resigned herself to the life of a lady's maid, but when her sister inherits a sprawling coastal estate in Cornwall, her life is turned upside down. Sarah E. Ladd's latest Regency romance is perfect for fans of Julie Klassen.

Elizabeth Lattimore and her sister grew up on the Penmarrow estate, but not within the gorgeous manor house. Rather, they were orphaned and grew up in the asylum where they apprenticed to become house staff. That is, until the fateful day when her sister was chosen to be the heir to Penmarrow estate. Ten years later, Eliza is back on Penmarrow land, but now she's expected to act the part of the ladies she was taught to serve. With her new position, she's determined to help the girls at the same asylum where she spent her childhood. But a series of mysterious events suggests a sinister plot is unfolding within the estate's walls.

Excise officer Jacob Hawke returns to his Cornish birthplace driven by a thirst for vengeance against the smugglers who caused his father's death. Jacob's investigation into the local smuggling ring leads him to Penmarrow, an estate perfectly positioned for smuggling with its coastline and coves. But what he doesn't expect is to find the charming Miss Lattimore who is just as intrigued by the lights she sees at night as he is concerned by them.

As the smuggling operation on her land turns dangerous, Eliza turns to Jacob to help her uncover what is happening beneath her sister's nose. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to expose a web of deceit that reaches the very core of society. As they fight for justice and truth, they uncover a love that was never meant to be, a love that could either cost them everything or grant them a future they never dared to imagine.