@Harmonium1923 it's a historical fiction (Victorian London) about a wealthy soap maker who becomes infatuated with a local prostitute and decides to put her up in an apartment so that no one may have her but him. He then realizes that she is an incredibly smart businesswoman and starts to consult her and involve her in his business. It is NOT a typical romantic novel though- it written as though the author is letting you follow the characters as they go about their business, and you're climbing the social ladder along with them. It's an amazingly good read.