The Emperor's Candlesticks

The Emperor's Candlesticks is a tale of espionage, political intrigue, and unexpected romance, set in 19th-century Europe. When a pair of exquisitely crafted candlesticks become the secret hiding place for dangerous documents, they pass from hand to hand across borders, drawing together diplomats, spies, and aristocrats in a deadly game of deception. At the center are two rival couriers — an English nobleman and a beautiful Russian woman — whose mission and loyalties are tested as fate binds them to the same perilous object. Blending romance, suspense, and high adventure, Baroness Orczy crafts a story that is at once cosmopolitan and thrilling, showcasing her early flair for plots of disguise, danger, and tangled passions.