A talented harpist, an aspiring composer, and a burning passion.

At seventeen, talented harpist Sophia Hawksworth believed being sold into marriage to a Seven Dials vicar was her salvation. However, the only fists harder and more cruel than her drunkard fathers were those of her self-righteous reforming husband. She has no choice but to escape or die. Taken in by Captain El Goodrum, she earns her keep entertaining the pirate queens guests at Goodrums House of Pleasure as the Masked Muse. Until five years pass and one of those guests shows up searching for the vicars runaway bride. Being taken on as the Earl of Framlingwoods mistress provides her with a home, anonymity, and a kind, undemanding lover. She is safe at last. Or is she?

What else does an opera need, save a dark secret and the threat of murder?

Being the second son of a wealthy, landed family is all well and good until one declines an impressive cavalry officers commission and decides to become an opera composer instead. Joshua Norcross is no coward. Opening his own opera house takes courage. Unfortunately doing so also takes money. Teaching an earls pampered mistress to read and write music seems an easy way to earn a great deal of money in a short time. Especially if he can determine if she is a murderess or not and collect the prize money the earl is offering for that information. With his talent for seducing women the task should be simple.