In the middle of the eighteenth century, at a time of England's political unrest, a man named John Wilkes leads a group of men into a secret society. Disgruntled by his inability to be accepted into political society, and hiding under the guise of a newspaper writer, he leads family, friends, and political cronies into his nefarious way of thinking. At this time, mechanized printing was popular, and for some in public office, keeping up with the societal pressures of the times meant turning to unprincipled conduct. Katherine Howard, daughter of a popular printer, realizes that her father, Lorne, has gone missing. Her contentious older siblings would never help her find him, so she turns to her father's attorney, Garrett Gardiner. Garrett is struck by the beauty of his client's daughter, although he had known Katherine's deceased mother and often spoke of her uncommon beauty. In addition to her exquisite looks, Garrett also finds himself drawn to her intelligence and inner strength, qualities not typically found in one so young. Katherine also turns for support to a relative she knows little about-her father's sister, Josephine Wilkes. Although she receives assistance from Garrett Gardiner, and solace from her aunt, Katherine finds herself entangled in a web of suspense, illegal affairs-and murder. What mystery is held in the stunning mask that Katherine discovers in her father's study? Does it hold the key to her past, which until now has not been revealed? And what role does her father play in the covert political dealings that she has stumbled upon? As Garrett and his father help Katherine and her aunt solve these mysteries, the attraction between Garrett and Katherine grows, changing Katherine's life forever.