The Ritual Of Pearls by Susan Swann
he Discipline of Pearls - a secret society for sensualists, and one in which successful businesswoman Marika Fremen has already served her apprenticeship. She now possess the coveted jet pendant with intertwined hearts and is considered a 'high up' in the society. When Marika travels to a French chateau on society business she meets and is seduced by the charismatic Charles Germain. Too late she discovers that Germain was once a member of the Discipline of Pearls, but was expelled for bad conduct. And now Charles in turn has become obsessed by the beautiful, seneous Marika.