Jocasta and the Cruelty of Kindness

In her previous London Season, Jocasta had tripped through ballrooms delighting an army of admirers, one of whom (Lord Robert Paxton, heir to an ealdom) had been invited by her papa to a house party at her home at Castle Fortune, to continue the acquaintance. Many things had happened at the house party, including the shattering of Jocasta’s naive confidence, when Paxton had preferred her younger sister, Portia. Jocasta was making a good job of pretending to be fine, and only one man can see that her front is false.

Sir Damon Regis, known in London as The Demon King, has a wicked reputation and a use of his own for Jocasta Fortune – but not one which includes wooing her. Pursuing her for one of his renowned schemes, Sir Damon seems the only one who sees beneath Jocasta’s act, and then feels bound to do something about it. Enter Cecilia Montgomery, newly arrived from her country home accompanied by her childhood friend, Tom, who is also the Duke of Enderby. Enderby is smitten by Jocasta, but Cecilia wants to use the duke to tease Damon, who considers himself her guardian, and is suspicious of the rakish duke’s interest in his ward. Cecilia persuades Tom to make damon worry more, by appearing to woo her. Soon the whole town talks of a love triangle between Cecilia, the duke and Jocasta.