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Chapter One

In Which a Quote from Shakespeare

Insults the Stodgy and Horrifies the Staid

March 15, 1817

Lady Cecilia Petworth to her sister, the Countess of Bredelbane

Dearest Sister,

I take h it is almost dawn, because I know you will be ’s entertainment at Sandleford House reaches you Kerr has h there’s nothing new in that (as we’ve said of your godson before, he gives new definition to the terhts To the horror of all, he escorted a French très-coquette to Lady Sandleford’s ball Making mischief as usual, Lord Dressel strolled up to the couple and asked Kerr if he’d set a date to htened his arm around his bird of paradise (for, not to mince words, she was no better) and drawled thelike not until she has er Lady Sandleford was naturally quite insulted by such unseemly behavior under her roof, and I’ like wildfireone one to her rest I shall write again tomorrow but, dearest, I think the tiodson to ht for an old head like ain in the morn

Yours in all affection,

Cecilia, Lady Petworth

March 16, 1817

The Countess of Bredelbane to her godson, Gilbert Baring-Gould, Earl of Kerr

Kerr,

I have received a distressing co your behavior—or should I say, the lack of it—while attending Lady Sandleford’s ball What needs have you, pray, to leave your usual haunts and attend the assenize the provenance of your disgusting reply to Dressel; Shakespeare was never in her line The least you could have done was to reverse the quotation and put the bit around the ring before the question of the baby Your fiancée will no doubt be horrified to find that her ability to get with child (and that without yo

ur knowledge) is on the lips of every Londoner I demand you make haste to the country and marry Emma immediately, preferably with a special license I shall expect to hear that you have left for St Albans by tomorrow at the latest

Yours with all proper esteem,

Countess of Bredelbane

March 16, 1817

Mrs Broughton to The Hon Emma Loudan, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Dear Miss Loudan,

I am not convinced that you will rehtest of acquaintances at Miss Proudfoot’s School for Ladies My maiden name was Laneham I write you from the deep reverence I feel toward you and indeed, all my fellow students at Miss Proudfoot’s School The Earl of Kerr spoke of you in such a fashion last evening that I had difficulty restraining myself To be precise, he said that he would notthat you ith child I know that this inforiven the unpleasant iards your reputation I hasten to tell you that no one believed it in the least If our positions were reversed, and I as isolated from the town as you have been, I should wish to be told of his disgraceful comment

In hopes that you are not angered by my communication,

Mrs Broughton

March 16, 1817

The Countess of Bredelbane to the Earl of Kerr