Any Old Diamonds

General
This is the first full-length book (and first published) in a duology (bilogy) called The Lilywhite Boys. The second book in the series is Gilded Cage.

Note!
This page contains spoilers for the Sins of the Cities series.

Summary
Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes is the younger son of the Duke of Ilvar, with a bitter grudge against his wealthy father. The Duke intends to give his Duchess a priceless diamond parure on their wedding anniversary—so Alec hires a pair of jewel thieves to steal it.

The Duke's remote castle is a difficult target, and Alec needs a way to get the thieves in. Soldier-turned-criminal Jerry Crozier has the answer: he'll pose as a Society gentleman and become Alec's new best friend.

But Jerry is a dangerous man: controlling, remote, and devastating. He effortlessly teases out the lonely young nobleman’s most secret desires, and soon he’s got Alec in his bed—and the palm of his hand.

Or maybe not. Because as the plot thickens, betrayals, secrets, new loves, and old evils come to light. Now the jewel thief and the aristocrat must keep up the pretence, find their way through a maze of privilege and deceit, and confront the truth of what's between them...all without getting caught.

Characters

 * Lord Alexander Pyne-ffoulkes (aka "Alec")
 * Jerry Crozier

Additional Characters

 * Mr Holcomb (Alec's friend)
 * Templeton Lane
 * Susan Lazarus, lady detective
 * Mrs Barzowski, Alec's landlady
 * Duke of Ilvar
 * Duchess of Ilvar, formerly Mrs Clayton
 * George, Earl of Hartington, Alec's older brother
 * Lady Cara, Alec's elder sister, deceased
 * Lady Annabel, Alec's younger sister
 * Countess of Moreton, formerly known as Greta Starling from the Sins of the Cities series

Places

 * London
 * Grand Cirque, music hall
 * Castle Speight, the family seat of the Duke of Ilvar
 * Jack and Knave
 * Long Bar, The Criterion

Epigraph
At the start of the book is an epigraph of a song that inspired the naming of the Lilywhite Boys.

Green Grow The Rushes-O, British folk songGreen grow the rushes-O

What is your three-O

Three, three, the rivals

Two, two the lily-white boys

Clothéd all in green-O

One is one and all is alone

And evermore shall be so