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Prologue

“Where is she?” There was no inflection in the younghis hands in consternation, as he avoided the fierce, piercing eyes of the erand wealth than old Silas, and Silas was a man who knew his place

Unlike so into hell before they’d subhter as even now hiding when she should be here front and center to meet her new master

“Well sir you see, it’s like this, please don’t be too cross she’s young yet and prone to nonsense on occasion” If he could he would be al as sure to be thewrath

“That doesn’t answer h the younger man did not raise his voice this tih the other th, and his temper If not for the also well-known fact that the irl hide hi for his only child’s sake that the tales of the young master’s kindnesses were true

When he’d first fell on hard ti and hard of his options There weren’t that many left for areally to offer the world and this neorld was very hard and unforgiving to those ere less fortunate

He hadn’t always been in this sorry predicament Once he’d been a man offor the child that had been the apple of his eye But then his business had gone belly up alo in twenty sixteen Now on the cusp of twenty thirty-one he was about to be rid of his one re asset

Yes that’s the conclusion he’d drawn that long ago day She was his one asset and by her very existence a liability The er savings and he’d heard often enough of her beauty Better he hand her off to someone with means, than let some bastard soil her for free Besides, as her sire it was up to him to see to her future and make sure it was less bleak than what it was now

He’d put out feelers, but in certain circles only After all he wanted her to go to a good alities, no one in society really governed such things anyone that route with successful results It was als to take place

For the wealthy elite it was al hter into He couldn’t bring hi

Never in a million years, would he have believed his inquiry would reach such high echelons as the Stanford heir though He’d never allowed his thoughts to beco master would be interested in his little sprite

He’d been gone with excitement when the man had sent his servant to fetch hihter will be living in splendor Marble floors and gold filigree on the irl will think she’d lad of it

He totally overlooked the fact that she would be in essence nothingAlyssa now enjoyed would be so greatly reduced as to be al food in their bellies and a roof over their heads

The deal had been struck and he’d walked away a rich uilt, his conscience was clear He’d found a good irl The boy had been kind spoken with fineyoung man either Any woman would be well pleased, and he expected no less fro Surely she’d appreciate that he’d found her someone as well heeled as master Braxton

She was sure to be well fed and looked after, things he could no longer afford to do for her The girl was s behind his decision, or so he’d convinced hio to her new ho him look bad