Lady Eliza and the Missing Friend

The year is 1905. In the bustling heart of London, Lady Eliza Winter adjusts her hat, feeling the familiar, suffocating pinch of her corset. Another fruitless social season has drawn to a close, leaving her no closer to the expected marriage match. Her only solace is the weekly luncheon with her dearest friend, Penelope Vanderwahl—a brief escape from the tedious expectations of her world.

But today, Penelope is not here. An hour late, she is uncharacteristically absent from their usual table at the tea shop. Worry begins to gnaw at Eliza as she leaves the shop and steps back into the chaotic, sweltering London streets. The city, which she loathes, suddenly feels more oppressive than usual.

Returning to Winter House, she finds her parents preparing for an unexpected dinner party at the Tennysons'. Her mother hopes to parade Eliza for potential suitors, but Eliza is more concerned about Penelope's whereabouts. A chance encounter at the party introduces her to Lord Colin Bradshaw, a detective in town for a murder case, and a man who seems to see beyond the surface.

The next morning, the arrival of a distressed Lady Vanderwahl confirms Eliza's fears: Penelope is missing. Clutching Penelope's last letter, Eliza knows she holds a secret that could either lead her to her friend or put them both in danger. As whispers and rumors continue to follow her, Eliza must decide how far she is willing to go to find Penelope and protect her secret.