Lord Ackley's Choice - The Ackley Family Saga, #1

Destined love. Forced proximity. Betrayal in the family. In the heart of a bygone era, where honor and estates defined one's worth, Lord Ackley stands at the precipice of ruin. His grand estate, a symbol of his lineage, teeters on the edge of the financial abyss, shackled by debts that threaten to consume his family's legacy. In a haze of desperation and inebriation, Lord Ackley makes an unthinkable pact with the formidable Duke Manchester.
In exchange for his daughter's hand, the Duke extends a lifeline to the ailing Ackley legacy, casting a faint glimmer of hope against the encroaching shadows of financial collapse. Aislinn, a vision of beauty, falls for the dashing Duke Manchester at her first ball, unaware of the dark connection that binds their families. Yet, lurking within Lord Ackley's household is an evil presence. His trusted servant from distant India conceals treacherous intentions, harboring a sinister plot to assassinate the revered Queen Victoria.
As the threads of deception and despair unravel, the fate of a crumbling aristocracy, an innocent daughter, and the monarchy itself hang precariously in the balance. In this gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and intrigue, Lord Ackley must navigate a treacherous path between preserving the family's honor and his own heart and life in the line.