"Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from the Queen of Britain: the rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters--the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago--have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising him an evening of spirits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia....

Sixteen-year-old Nicola Sparks is infuriated when Nathanial Sheridan casts aspersions on the character of Lord Sebastian Bartholomew, the man she hopes to marry, and is sure that nothing Nathanial can say will change her opinion.