Watching from the shadows of the gaming house is Lord Justin, the Marquis of Vulcan—a man known for being cool, detached, and "inhuman" at the gambling tables. Disgusted by Wrotham’s intentions, Vulcan challenges him to a winner-take-all wager for the house and the girl. Vulcan wins, effectively becoming Serena’s owner and fiancé. Life at Mandrake

Serena is forced to leave her beloved home to live at Vulcan’s ancestral estate, Mandrake, a forbidding cliff-top mansion. There, she finds herself in a world of danger and intrigue:

A Hazard Of Hearts: Rich people contribute nothing to society

The story of A Hazard of Hearts , originally a novel by Barbara Cartland and famously adapted into a 1987 film, is a classic Regency-era romance centered on high stakes and a family debt of honor. The Fatal Wager

After surviving abductions and uncovering the secrets of Mandrake, Serena and Vulcan eventually find true love, proving that even a "hazard of hearts" can lead to a happy ending.