
\[COPYRIGHT\]
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
In the glow of moonlit gardens, an opulent country house gathers a circle of witty ladies and charismatic gentlemen for a weekend of games, gossip, and hidden motives. At the heart of the gathering is Ivy Lexton, a strikingly beautiful young woman whose effortless allure sets the tone for whispered speculation among the hosts. Amid the clink of billiard balls and the rustle of silk, guests such as the sharp‑tongued Joan Rodney and the seasoned Lady Flora parse each other's words, trying to read the undercurrents that swirl through the drawing‑room.
Ivy’s reputation as a “professional beauty” precedes her, yet those who observe her note a puzzling, almost soulless quality that defies simple admiration. While some see her as a clever orchestrator of flirtations—especially with the affluent Miles Rushworth—others sense a deeper hesitancy beneath her confident façade. As the night deepens, the interplay of charm, ambition, and lingering war‑time shadows begins to shape a delicate dance of desire and discretion, leaving listeners eager to discover what will surface when the party’s bright lights dim.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (470K characters)
Release date
Aug 3, 2026
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1947
Best known for The Lodger, she helped shape the modern suspense novel with stories that turn ordinary homes and uneasy secrets into real psychological tension. Her fiction often drew on notorious crimes, but the lasting power comes from how closely she watched fear, guilt, and suspicion at work.
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