In the dazzling world of 1893 New York City, where gilded mansions conceal simmering unrest, Genevieve Beaumont, the “Pale Wallflower,” leads a double life. By day, she's the dutiful daughter of ruthless railroad tycoon Magnus Beaumont, navigating the stifling expectations of high society. By night, fueled by her grandmother's suffragist journals, she transforms into a brilliant saboteur, wielding her secret passion for clockwork mechanics to dismantle her father's empire piece by piece.
Delayed shipments, mysteriously malfunctioning machinery, whispers of dissent among the workers—Genevieve's subtle acts of defiance escalate, drawing the attention of both allies and enemies. Sharp-tongued journalist Iris Finch, hungry for a story that will make her mark, becomes Genevieve's confidante and accomplice, their words fanning the flames of unrest. Meanwhile, Pinkerton detective Jasper Reed, as cold and calculating as the steel tracks he protects, is tasked with uncovering the saboteur, finding himself increasingly drawn to the puzzle—and the intoxicating scent of lilies and machine oil—that is Genevieve Beaumont.
As Genevieve is pulled deeper into the fight for workers' rights alongside charismatic labor organizer Elias Vance, she must choose between loyalty to her family and her unwavering commitment to justice. With Jasper closing in and her father sensing betrayal, the walls of her double life begin to crumble. In a climactic confrontation during a lavish Beaumont ball, Genevieve orchestrates her most daring act of sabotage yet, a public declaration of defiance that will irrevocably change the course of her life and ignite the fires of a revolution. But at what cost?
