My Secret Affair with the Duke

In Regency London, Elle lives in Duke Alistair Belgrave's house under the name Estelle, passing as his half-sister, and she is engaged to Percy Vane. Alistair bought her out of the slums for this. He had been forced into an engagement with Beatrix Vane, who is fixated on him, and marrying his supposed sister to Percy is his way out of it. The deal between Elle and Alistair begins as a cold transaction. The two fall for each other while still having to act as brother and sister in front of everyone else. Alistair has also drawn up a secret order for Elle's execution. At the ball for her engagement, Beatrix tells the room who Elle really is. The scandal breaks, and Elle runs from the ball convinced that Alistair meant to have her killed, and Beatrix follows her with a gun.