Dr. Susan Chen finds her boyfriend and cousin in her apartment together kissing. Stricken and heartbroken, she runs out of the building and goes to her favorite pub where she meets a mysterious lady, who encourages her to unload her problems. Susan despairs that no one sees her as a woman and for once, she would like to be cherished, and live in a time where men were gentlemen and ladies were ladies. The woman unveils that she can make Susan's wish come true and give her a new life. Susan realizes there is something weird about the woman and tries to get away but it's too late.

She wakes up to find herself covered in jewels and a fancy ballgown, yet stuck in a dirty alley of eighteenth-century Georgian London. Confused and bereft of her memories, she comes upon a plucky prostitute called Violet, who takes Susan back to where she lives, a brothel. The bawd, Mrs. Rowena Hicks, insists that Susan must work for her if she wants to live in the bawdhouse. Susan is afraid to venture out by herself because she knows nothing about the world out there.  Mrs. Hicks says the only way Susan can have a good, comfortable life was to find herself a wealthy protector who will take care of her as his mistress. Seeing no other way out, Susan agrees.

Susan is auctioned to a man the other girls call The Duke of Agony, someone who is rumored to have unusual sexual proclivities. The girls also tell her that he's bought girls from the bawdhouse before and they all disappeared without a trace. Worse yet, a mysterious figure is killing prostitutes in the district of Whitechapel and Susan fears the duke may be the perpetrator. Will she find out the truth or will she become another victim of the so-called Duke of Agony?

Main characters:
Susan Shu-Lien Chen
August Evelyn Holloway
Violet Puckett
Roland Carstairs
Mrs. Rowena Hicks
Mrs. Arabella Beasley

Time After Time

Chapter 42

Sue opened the box again and pulled out the emeralds with a trembling hand. She slipped the necklace into the pocket of her gown—gowns with pockets were a blessing—and locked the box again. She turned to Mrs. Hicks and handed her the diamond necklace. “I want you to have this,” Sue said, dropping ...

Chapter 16