The Emperor's Conspiracy (Paperback, Original)

Through good fortune, Charlotte Raven escaped the poverty of the London slums and is now an educated, wealthy Society lady. But she lives between two worlds, unable to completely turn her back on her old life -- especially Luke, her childhood protector and now a ruthless London crime lord. When Lord Edward Durnham is asked to investigate the alarming movement of gold out of England, his search leads him to the stews of London, and his recent acquaintance with Charlotte gives him access to a dark world he barely knew existed. As they delve deeper into that world danger stalks them at every turn, both from unknown foreign agents and from denizens of the underworld, and Charlotte must mediate between her two worlds to form a working alliance to save England.