Having made his shock entrance into London society, James Delaney sets about reclaiming his legacy and establishing a new life for himself. While the city views him with hostility and suspicion, James begins to enlist allies in unlikely places and with irregular loyalties.

At the reading of his father's will, an unexpected arrival threatens to disrupt his plans, and it is not long before the poisonous nature of his newfound inheritance is finally revealed. Not only must he face down two of the mightiest powers in London, but there are equally complicated matters much closer to home. And then there is his past, which will not be denied.

The Crown makes a devious move against James Delaney, while the Company has its own reasons for frustrating the plot. As London begins closing its doors to him, James sets out to protect his business by any means necessary.

With empire and mayhem in mind, James adds Cholmondeley, a depraved Chemist, to his company with explosive consequences. Meanwhile, Lorna aims to prove she's anything but a weak link, and buried secrets become a matter of yet more intrigue and violence.