''A rich jewel of a story, full of desire and danger'' - Julie Cohen. A dark tale of love and obsession, perfect for fans of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock and The Wicked Cometh. London, 1853. Annie Stride has nothing left to live for - she is a penniless prostitute, newly evicted from her home and pregnantOn the night she plans to cast herself from Waterloo Bridge into the icy waters of the Thames, her life is saved by Francis Maybrick Gill, a talented pre-Raphaelite painter - and her world is changed forever.Francis takes Annie as his artist''s muse, elevating her from fallen woman to society''s darlingWith her otherworldly beauty now the toast of London, her dark past is left far behind. But Annie''s lavish new life is not all it seems - and there are some who won''t let her forget where she came from...''A thrilling tale of love, lust and revenge'' The Lady''A captivating gothic blend of mystery and romance'' Sunday Mirror''Exquisite...this is historical fiction at its best'' - Book L