Power is seductive; those who desire it most deserve it least. It permeates society - subtle and ruthless, and never without consequence.   A literary historical novel of ambition, corruption, and a young woman's moral awakening in 18th-century London.   London, 1763. As Britain emerges from war and the East India Company deepens its grip on global influence, Isabella Thornbury steps into the opulent world of London's high society for her first social season. What begins as a dance of suitors and soirées soon reveals darker layers of political corruption, secret societies, and a mysterious pocketbook that could unravel reputations.   As Isabella is drawn into a web of power and deceit, she must choose between complicity and conscience. Will she preserve her place in society, or risk everything to expose the truth?