She would not defend herself. What was she to say? That she loved a man of whom they would never approve simply because he was in a higher social class than they? That she believed that he truly loved her? Nothing she said would make a difference. Her father would hear only what Mary Anne wanted ...
He was surprised to see his father sitting at the head of the table, his leonine head and grey beard giving him the look of an aging but powerful monarch. “There’s been talk about you,” his father said. “Talk about me?” Davenport was puzzled. He tho...
People were beginning to choose which game they wished to play, and the sideboard was heavily laden with port, sherry, and the breads, cheeses, and fruit that would be the main source of sustenance as the evening wore on. “Come along, Phoebe,” her mother said behind her, urging her forward by the...
The events of the past few weeks felt like something out of a bad dream or nightmare. She was walking with Lord Blackwood in the garden behind her home, discussing his latest discovery of the Count de Coligny’s motivation to harm her and her family. ...
Why did you not tell me? What do you mean, my sister has married!” “I didn’t know,” pleaded the spy. “It happened very sudden. Lady Arya left last night and sent word this morning that she had married the Duke of Middleton. The household is in an uproar. The Maharajah hims...
Naturally, she had a tiff, just like any well-bred young lady her age, but a full-on angry rage was a rare occurrence. Today would prove very different. She was in a gambling den. Never mind how beautiful the ballroom or respectable-looking everything was, this was a gambl...
She had never been so scared in her life entire life. She had woken up with a strange man on top of her, pressing her down into a strange bed. When she had tried to scream he had covered her mouth and despite how hard she fought she had not been able to get him off. He had pressed a foul smelling...
She refused to get up at the required hour that first morning, and when Charlotte told her that her punishment was to miss the afternoon walk with Molly, so that she could do the work she had missed, she sulked and spat at her little sister, who was the epitome of childlike charm. &nb...
It was a bold request from a man of his station, but, as Eliza and her belongings were moved to Savile House before the end of the week, she realized that she had no one else to trust. Her parents were deaf to her entreaties; in fact, her father was practically invisible. It seemed to Eliza that ...