After the death of his father, Lord Henry Kingston assumed the title of Earl of Derby and took command of his family’s vast holdings. For six years, he expanded the empire with steely precision— extending its reach from Vienna’s salons to the edges of the continent.

But a letter from London changes everything.

Summoned to lend prestige to a new gallery, Henry prepares to unveil a scandalous set of paintings on English soil—works hidden for over a century, poised to shake the foundations of polite society. The exhibition will mark his return to London. And it will not go unnoticed.

It’s a legacy play. A provocation. And it sets in motion a chain of events he cannot control.

This prequel short story sets the stage for Lord Henry’s full story in Book One, The Grünewald Affair—where mystery deepens, slow-burn romance ignites, and an unlikely alliance with a lady whose sharp wit and bold spirit challenge everything he thought he wanted. Together, they unravel clues, confront buried secrets, and face a desire that sizzles beneath every exchange.