A Hazard Of Hearts: Rich people contribute nothing to society
The story begins with Sir Giles Staverley, a compulsive gambler who has lost his entire fortune. In a final, desperate game of dice against his rival, the sinister Lord Harry Wrotham, Sir Giles wagers the only things he has left: his ancestral home, Staverley Court, and his daughter Serena’s hand in marriage. He loses the bet and, unable to face Serena with the news that he has gambled her away, he takes his own life. The Enigmatic Savior
Serena soon discovers that the estate is a hub for smugglers and highwaymen.