Young Euphemia Marlington, daughter of the influential Duke of Carlisle, was abducted by corsairs. For seventeen long years, the girl lived as a disenfranchised slave in the harem of the cruel sultan. It was only after his death that she was able to return to England. But her native country does not welcome the beauty kindly: secular gossips are happy to spread dirty rumors, and her father dreams of marrying Mia literally to the first person he meets. Adam de Courtenay, Marquess of Exley is a sneering and arrogant aristocrat. He despises the upper class, who in retaliation suspects Adam of murdering two wives. However, Mia is attracted to the mysterious handsome man like a magnet. Would she suffer a similar fate? Or will the accusations turn out to be in vain, and the mind, will and beauty of the former slave will finally melt the heart of the dangerous marquis?. A vivid, passionate and provocative love story set in the 19th century. For all fans of the TV series "Bridgerton" and the work of Julia Queen, Lisa Kleipas and Joe Beverly. — The first book of the series "Outcasts". All the novels in the cycle have complete plots and can be read separately. — Minerva Spencer is the author of two dozen historical and romance novels, translated into all major languages of the world. — A new book in the legendary Charm series.