Deprived of his birthright when his noble mother eloped with an Italian opera singer and was disowned by her aristocratic family for marrying beneath her social class, Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini, the 10th Duke of Chalfont and now a humble assistant in a draper's shop, vows revenge. Clearly, weeding out every successor is the only way to achieve his bloody goal, and as hate-filled Mazzini sets about his mission of vengeance, he crosses paths with two seductive femmes fatales whom he conquers with his eloquence. Still, killing everyone in the way is like playing with fire. Will Louis ever become Duke of Chalfont?—Nick Riganas