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Chapter One

April, 1815

Newberry Park, Essex

I will be betrothed today

The faht Lady Sally Ford intense satisfaction as she hurried toward Newberry Park’s white drawing room were her future waited to be taken up

The two foot roorand entrance to ive her hand in e She noted the occupants arrayed in the afternoon’s final sunrays—her mother and her future mother-in-law

But no potential groom

Regardless of the lack of future husband, Sally dropped into a perfect curtsy because she could not afford to make a bad impression She had spentsure her dark hair was perfectly arranged and her lips slightly pinked thanks to a brush of tinted beeswax She wanted to have kissable lips when she agreed to become a bride

Sally’s mother, the Countess of Templeton, rested with her feet upon a padded stool and a scrap of fine cloth over her brow

“Good afternoon, Mama Lady Ellicott”

Maht at the sound of Sally’s voice “Sally, what are you doing here? I thought you would be gone for hours yet”

Sally smiled but did not want to be drawn into a conversation about the estate immediately “Where else would I want to be but with our iuests?”