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Chapter One

London, April 1812

Victoria Forster eyed herself in the crackedfor her short stature but also too big in the bodice Not to reen it made her eyes hurt The scullery maid, Molly—no lady’s maid for the likes of her—had pinned the dress in so many places Victoria was afraid to move

“Tell her I’ll not wait a er!” Her cousin’s screech scrabbled down the corridor

But move she must, or Louisa would leave for the soiree without her Victoria could not afford to ave her an encouraging serly, Victoria made her way down the staircase of her cousin’s townhouse

Louisa stood near the front door, her head tilted to catch soan, had said His words, whatever they rin on Louisa’s face

Victoria was struck again by how young her cousin’s butler was His rey and Victoria had detere He certainly was an ambitious fellow to achieve the position of butler so early in his career

Louisa’s grin vanished when she caught sight of Victoria In its place was a nasty smirk “Well, well, well Don’t you lookatrocious” Her cousin shook her head in disgust “That color does not suit you at all”

Victoria stilled her tongue Louisa had chosen the gown for her Louisa chose all of her gowns None of them ever fit and all of the Victoria could do about it She couldn’t wield a needle and thread to save her life and she certainly hadn’t the owns

Sing her frustration, Victoria followed her cousin into the waiting carriage Louisa’s husband, Mr Barrett Broas Victoria’s guardian The man rarely paid her any mind, especially when she’d been installed at his manor in Lincolnshire Recently, after her twenty-fourth birthday, he’d decided his ward should have a Season in order to land a husband and remove herself from his expense sheet Louisa had not embraced this plan with enthusiasm She spent as little coin as possible on Victoria’s wardrobe and only reluctantly let Victoria attend various social gatherings with her

Victoria was not certain why Louisa didn’t try harder to get her married off She’d be out of her cousin’s hair once and for all, wouldn’t she? But then, ould Louisa order around? Upon whom could she pile insult after insult?

The obvious and unfortunate ansas the household servants However, Louisa treated thenity than she did Victoria

Louisa, sitting on the opposite seat of the carriage, looked down her nose “Do not embarrass me”