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Alex bounded down the wide staircase of Worthington House and skidded to a halt in front of the sitting roo butler who had been with the Stafford fa at the ready As Alex's heavy skirts swirled to a stop around her legs, he opened the door to let her into the room

Casting a twinkling glance at the butler, Alex stiffened her spine and offered her most ladylike "Thank you, Harquist" in his direction as she exaggeratedly flounced into the room

His soiggles exploded from across the roorin as she threw herself most indelicately onto the nearest chaise — across from her closest friends in the world, Ella and Vivi

The three had been friends since birth Their fathers' boyhood caiven thehter, born in three consecutive weeks of the year It was only logical that the girls would become friends, confidantes, and partners in crime

Lady Vivian Markwell , the only daughter of the Marquess of Langford, was the eldest of the trio — tall and slender, with her father's dark hair and violet eyes, Vivi's beauty betrayed a sharpwill also inherited fro but also a national hero and a high-ranking member of the British War Office

Vivi's mother had died when Vivi was only seven years old and her father had never re Vivi and her twin brother, Sebastian While Sebastian spent his days at Eton, studying to inherit his father's title and becorown into a perfectly ly exotic beauty

The youngest of the three by a hter of the Earl and Countess of Marlborough Ella's delicate features and petite frame, combined with her corn-silk-blond hair and blue eyes, afforded her the exact features that most ladies of the ton would have sold their souls to have for themselves Ella's personality defied her porcelain looks — she preferred books to balls and had even less interest than Alex in the trappings of London society While Ella recognized and embraced the fact that her interests would likely leave her without a husband, Ella's mother was beside herself with horror at the prospect of such a life for her daughter Not that such a reaction bothered Ella in the least in fact, Alex had a sneaking suspicion that her friend considered irritating the countess an added bonus

Vivi and Ella had been with Alex for every step of her life and she couldn't iine a day without them And, at that particular moment, she couldn't have been happier that they were there

"I aest dress fitting What perfect ti!"

The girls cast sidelong glances at each other

"That would explain your odd attire," Ella said drily

Alex looked down at herself with a groan "I was in such a hurry to get out of that rooown" She sat up on the chaise and fluffed her skirts "I’ll change in a bit I'one She takes pleasure in my pain"

"Yourabout in your coown," observed Vivi "But since you're herestand up so we can have a look at it"

Alex stood, curtsied, and twirled for her friends Vivi smiled broadly "It's beautiful, Alex The color is perfect on you Cruely or no, Madame Fernaud knoield a needle"

Alex grimaced at the memory of the needle in question and spoke wryly "Alasif only she were as careful with skin as she is with silk" The girls shared a laugh — they'd all been on the receiving end of the modiste's needle — and Alex looked down at the dress she'd been wearing for most of the afternoon

She had to admit that it was beautiful A rich eht her bronze cooas perfectly fitted to her body from shoulders to neckline to waist — a style Alex had never been able to wear before, her age prohibiting her fro At the waist, the dress fell in rich waves of luxurious fabric down to the floor What made it truly remarkable, however, were the hundreds of tiny handmade rosebuds that were onal cascade The flowers, in the saly at the top of the bodice and gradually spilled down the dress, increasing in nuating her forht

It really was a masterpiece

Ella interrupted her study of the gown "If you think you're going to be able to steer clear of e in that, you're sorely mistaken"

Alex cast a scowl at her friend Ella never ht Unfortunately, this situation was no exception The goas designed for one reason onlyto catch her a husband For more than a year, her mother had been in a ind of preparation for this, the spring of 1815, when Alex would turn seventeen and be "introduced" to the world Not that she hadn't been introduced to the world for seventeen years But this was different This was her first season, when she would be paraded like a piece of horseflesh in front of every unattached male in London who happened to have a sizable inheritance and an acceptable title Her oal was to have Alex married off by autumn

Did anything sound worse?

"I' to have to try not to do this dress justice" Alex's tone was filled with resolve "Myas she possibly can I meanwho on earth wants to end up htmare!" she said to no one in particular

Ella leaned back against the soft upholstery of her chair and looked up at the ceiling with disdain "No one At least, no one with a mind to think for herself"

"My brothers are all years older than I aet married?"

Vivi interrupted, "Yes"

"That's becauseher children But they don't listen to her! The only reason they've agreed to attend any balls this year is because they want fodder hich to mock their little sister!"

Ella this tily mockable"

Vivi chuckled as Alex shot her friend a withering glance and carried on "It's atrociously unfair! Men our age aren't even asked to attend ball s The idea of boys hteen is unfathomable for our set It's what happens in the country! And yet, we are paraded around likelikecattleto be soldto the highest bidder!"

Ella interrupted again "Well, to be fair, perhaps it's best e eighteen-year-old male?"

Vivi's dry re offense at being compared to livestock Go on, Alex"

Alex sighed "I' silly, I know But that's how it feels Especially when you groith three older brothers who seem to have an entirely differe

nt set of rules"

"You're right," Ella spoke seriously, "but it seems that we don't really have a choice Our options are rather limited"

And Ella would know As the eldest in a faation to er sisters unless she could figure out a way to take herself out of the running Ella had considered any nuirls had discussed every possibility and come to one conclusion: The fastest way to be set "on the shelf" and ignored was to have one's reputation ruined

Unfortunately, being ruined was not an option, however te it was, for it seeh to try so Girls in London society could have their reputation destroyed in any nu (or so more scandalous) on the lips (or so three ora man at his home unchaperoned

Ella had considered these options again and again, even going so far as to make lists of the men she felt she could convince to aid her ruin, but she siossip and criticism down upon her fa lady Polite society could be devastatingly cruel to her loved ones as well

"Unless I decide to give my mother a case of hysterics and destroyunnoticed," Ella said to no one in particular

Vivi chuckled and shook her head at her friend "You make it sound so easy! You're beautiful and couaranteed, Ella"

"Ah, but you've forgotten ent wife" Ella gave aa possibility"