Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare, is a spy living a double life: for most of the time, he spends his time in London, pursuing the pleasures afforded to the upper echelon of British society. At other times, however, the Earl travels over to France and garners intelligence through his intelligence network positioned in Napoleon-controlled France. Unable to save an associate from a brutal, painful death, Val "saves" someone else instead: the beautiful Elizabeth Carstairs, the mistress of a French gambler who owns a gambling hell in London. After winning Elizabeth in a hand of cards, Val takes her to his London townhouse, where he offers her shelter. Elizabeth Carstairs, however, isn't clamoring for the Earl's attentions. She protects herself from the harsh realities of life by wearing a carefully constructed mask of indifference and secrecy. Once Val learns Elizabeth's secrets, can he ever see her as anything more than a Frenchman's mistress?