The Sisterhood of the Coin

England, 1820 London

Nicola Highbridge, raised by a loving foster mother since she was two days old, had plans to marry a local landowners’ son until his mother informed her. “You do not know who your parents or grandparents are. They could be murders, thieves, or worse. You will not marry my son or any gentlemen of the realm.” For four years, Nicola had hidden away in a small town in rural England, hoping to someday find the answers to her parentage. Her self-imposed exile ends when she must travel to London to honor her pledge as a member of the Sisterhood of the Coin. Nicolas hopes to have answers to her questions. Why did my sister send for her? Why did her parents give her away like a loaf of bread, and who are they?

Clay Barber, a former government agent and the Earl of Woodhaven, has once again become an agent to avenge his brother’s death. He must expose and stop the leaders of the notorious Spenceans, an 1820 terrorist group, or die trying.

Neither Nicola nor Clay realizes their first chance meeting in London is entwined until a mishap at the British museum days later. A thief threatens to kill Nicola’s family member if one of her foster sisters doesn’t steal priceless artifacts from the British Museum. The man responsible disappears while being pursued by Clay’s partner.

Nicola’s reason for coming to London vanished along with the thief. Yet, Nicola discovers she is reluctant to leave and return to rural England. Every time she and Clay meet, their fascination with each other becomes stronger.

She has unfinished business with Mr. Barber and realizes she can’t plan a future, a husband, and children unless she broadens her search for her birth parents, which leads her into harm’s way.

Coming to her rescue more than once, Clay declares his love for her. Nicola will not listen. She will not have her heart broken again because she doesn’t know who her parents are.

By discovering Nicola’s parents’ identity, Clay arranges for her to meet them. Clay stays in London to complete his mission. He successfully stops the Cato Conspiracy from killing the entire British cabinet. However, the leaders of the Spencean organization escape during a bloody battle. 

After meeting with her birth parents, Nicola returns to London to accept Clay’s hand in marriage. She realizes her worth is measured by who she is, not by her parents.

Nicola heads to London’s East Eng to find Clay as he searches for the remaining Spencean leader. Clay watch in horror when Nicola is grabbed and pulled into an abandoned warehouse, which is being demolished. At that moment, Clay realized revenge won’t bring back his brother. If he loses the woman he loves, his life won’t be worth living. 

Nicola’s uncle, the remaining leader of the Spenceans, mistakenly blames Nicola for his disgrace. He finds, however, that he cannot kill her as he had planned. He has difficulty grasping why his niece wants to help him after all he has done to her, her parents, and his country. He regains his senses and pushes Nicola aside when a warehouse wall falls. He is killed instantly. Nicola escapes further injury when Clay rescues her from the building.

Clay and Nicola marry at the estate of her father, The Duke of Mortain, amid the Ton gossip.