: A bookish, "on the shelf" spinster and budding bluestocking. She is determined to protect her estate's staff even if it means a loveless marriage.
: Known by the ton as "Satan," he is a decadent rake who recently returned from years in Macao. Behind his scandalous exterior, he suspects his own stepmother is plotting his murder. Wickeds Scandal by Kathleen Ayers
The story centers on , a spinster from Hampshire who is forced into the London social scene by her unscrupulous uncle. To save her family's ancestral home, Helmsby Abbey, she must agree to an arranged marriage with a man her uncle has chosen. : A bookish, "on the shelf" spinster and
: The plot features "over the top" antagonists, including Alex's "odious" uncle and Sutton's untrustworthy family members, who drive much of the story's conflict. Series Context Behind his scandalous exterior, he suspects his own