The most ladylike of "Merlin's Maidens," Sofia possesses a natural grace and grandeur to go along with her deadly arsenal of martial-arts skills--which makes her the perfect choice for a dangerous assignment to investigate rumors of government corruption. She must spin through the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair and the back alleys of London, where one misstep could prove fatal as she works to unravel the tangled web of deceit. But keeping the sinfully sexy Deverill Osborne at arm's length is a real test of her mettle. Handsome, witty, and the darling of the ton, Osborne is asked by the Marquess of Lynsley to introduce a mysterious young Italian contessa into Society, however he soon has suspicions about her. W hen he catches her stealing valuables from a gentleman's study, should he believe the worst? Or should he trust the tantalizing murmur of her words, and the sultry whispers of her body? To unmask the conspirators, Sofia and Osborne will overcome hidden dangers and their own growing passion...which may be the most dangerous force of all.