In April 1831, her grace Corinne Monroe wants her widowed son, Lord Julian, to marry her best friend's daughter, Miss Sophie Wilkie, Julian last saw Sophie when she was twelve years old, silent, skinny, and always staring at him. He does want to go. However, his mother is nothing if not persuasive, and Julian reluctantly accompanies her to London to meet the young lady. And he knows that whatever happens isn't going to be good. Lord Devlin Monroe, Julian's nephew, is very fond of his intriguing vampire persona in society: he delights, he frightens, he brings on delicious shudders.