Regency LondonBrendan Townsend is a young man who is very loyal to his friends. So when Tonyhis best friend, occasional lover, and a complete screw-upcomes to him in trouble, Brendan is determined to help. Tony is being blackmailed by the owner of a molly house, the private club that Tonyand other like-minded gentlemenfrequent in order to indulge their entertainment needs.Brendan is disappointed in his friend, but goes to seek the help of his older brothers military commander. Philip Carlisle is a gentleman to Society, and also a man Brendans brother trusted completely and told his younger brother to seek out if he ever was in trouble. Philip is a 40-year-old widower, and finds himself charmed, for the first time, by an attractive young man. Brendan is likewise besotted with hero-worship, especially when Philip turns the tables on the blackmailer and saves the day for many of Societys closeted sons.What follows is a tale of desire, regrets, cross-country pursuit, hidden identities, lovers torn asunder then reunited, clever cover stories, and the requisite pistols at dawn.