The Lord's Gambit — Neil Plakcy

Opposites attract in this sweeping Victorian MM romance when Reed Lydney, a disgraced Foreign Office clerk encounters Israel Kupersmit, a brilliant but destitute Jewish scholar forced to survive on London's unforgiving streets.Their forbidden love blossoms against all odds - crossing boundaries of class, religion, and society's rigid expectations. As Reed helps Israel rebuild his life, they're drawn into a web of international intrigue that threatens everything they hold dear.With themes of found family, hurt/comfort, and the healing power of acceptance, The Lord's Gambit shows that true love can flourish even between two men from vastly different worlds. This slow-burn romance features a competence kink as Israel's mathematical brilliance helps unravel a deadly conspiracy, while Reed's protective instincts drive him to shelter the man who has captured his heart.The fourth book in the beloved Ormond Yard series delivers not just adventure and passion, but a tender story of two lonely souls finding harbor in each other.