Titus is a paint maker (and a good one), who suddenly becomes one of the richest men in London… which is as much a blessing as it is a curse because suddenly, everyone sees his money before they see him. Actually, Titus isn’t too happy with being seen at all. He’s not used to putting himself forward.
Nico is a fake in so many ways. His clothes, his demeanor, even his name. Right now, he owes money to dangerous men and he and his cousin are in danger. When Titus offers him a place in his household and an opportunity to make a little money (plus the time and space to work his planned scam), he takes it. But he LIKES Titus. More than likes him… so he doesn’t want to cheat him.
I love how Titus is trying to do the right thing by his position and his family, when what makes him happy is thinking about colours and paints and art. Nico gives him the confidence to find boundaries and enforce them. Nico starts off trying to get some money off Titus, but ends up tying himself in an ever more tangled web of lies and danger, especially because he’s trying NOT to cheat Titus.
I genuinely enjoyed this story and particularly loved the major dramatic scene at the end where Nico plays to Titus’s strengths to get rid of some truly awful men.
This was exactly the thing I needed to get me out of the reading funk that I’d fallen into.
I got this ARC from Netgalley.