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One

London

September 1834

They were twits—foolish, fashionable, and frivolous

Reggie Carmarthen stood in Hyde Park beyond the end of Rotten Row, and studied the tonnish feathered about the Avenue with a distinctly jaundiced eye Especially the younger ladies, those desirous of finding a husband

Their shrill laughter reached hi back to the capital for the September and October round of balls and parties In and about their eway, the un the latest news, every one of thelanced off artfully arranged curls or was deflected by fringed parasols The breeze flirted with full skirts, teasing the ue

Fashions had changed over the last ten years, but little else had—he felt not the slightest wish tosunshine

With an inward hu away and deter the fashionable horde behind

Despite his antipathy, he had to think ofHe was thirty-two His ly pointed ones, over the past decade, but she knew she could push him only so far—after a few failed atte ladies on hi, however, the dareat-uncle’s failing health

His great-uncle was the Earl of Carlisle; his father, Herbert Carmarthen, presently Viscount Northcote, was the earl’s heir Which ie, would, on his uncle’s death and his father’s accession to the earldom, step up to his father’s present title

Those facts idely known, yet waking one uaranteed, as his , to focus the attention of every lastmama on him

He could either exercise his prerogative and select a wife forthwith, or be inundated with candidates

Reaching the carriageway that separated Hyde Park fro threat filled his ravel, he walked into the heavily shaded walks of the gardens; in the less fashionable area there were only a few nurse

The idea of round in his conscious mind Visits, sues and the Ashfords were largely to blame—impossible not to notice the satisfaction, the stability, the strength that successful e and Amelia Ashford, had been his closest friends froh the years; the Cynster fa his parents’s closest acquaintances If ever there was a case to be roup exemplified all that was best, all that could be achieved in that sphere

Other friends, too, had succumbed; most were quite contented now, even if that had not been their initial expectation A few male friends remained bachelors, yet the coer satisfied as once they had

Marriage

His e And far better to make the choice himself rather than have it thrust upon him

He was naturally inclined to laissez-faire—to leaving well enough alone—yet in this case lettingand let themamas have at him would be the action of a lunatic

He had to make up his mind and act swiftly

So whom should he marry? In which direction should he look?

What he had to offer was easily catalogued—a family ranked within the haut ton, sufficient wealth to make actual amounts of no account, and ultimately the earldom and all that iven to excess in any sphere, was experienced and assured in all tonnish h—admittedly not the sort who drew eyes or stood out in a crowd, yet the ladies hom he’d shared liaisons over the years had never complained

His lips twisted wryly He suspected his quiet, unassu by many ladies, in soardless, he was content with his appearance, confident in it