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CHAPTERONE
It was a day like any other for Caroline Campbell. She was sitting in the drawing room of her family’s London house with her mother and three sisters after having breakfast—practicing her needlework. A most banal activity and one that was her least favorite, but her mother was sitting right in front of her, and she could not complain lest she got her ears filled with nagging and lectures.
Her sisters, Ann, Marjorie, and Alice were also practicing their needlework, with their mother paying special attention to young Alice. Marjorie and Alice had yet to debut and, therefore, according to Caroline, were still free. She and Ann, however, were in the public eye and now had to watch themselves very carefully as the slightest error or incompetence could lead to their ruin.
“Caroline, look, I made a duck,” Ann whispered to her.
Caroline looked over to see the grotesque duck on her sister’s handkerchief. “That is the ugliest, yet most detailed duck I have ever seen in my life.”
Ann was the best at needling. If she had the time, she could create the most beautiful patterns and recreate images even. She had recently started needling images off ofher head. Today it was a hideous duck. Their mother, who had them needling gardenias, would be displeased. Ann snickered, clearly satisfied with herself.
Caroline was thinking about how their mother would start yapping again about how Ann could put her talents to better usewhen they were interrupted by a knock. She didn't pay much attention when the butler came in for,despite making her debut two seasons ago, no one came calling for her because she had no friends other than her sister.
To her surprise, however, Carlisle handed her a letter. She looked up at the butler in surprise, but his expression was blank. The letter had no seal, recipient, or sender, leaving the exterior blank. Caroline, who was bored of needling and all too happy with the distraction, did not bother asking where the letter came from and dismissed him.
She glanced over at her mother, finding that she was engrossed in directing Alice and was not paying attention to Caroline. She opened the mysterious letter curiously, and after only reading the first line, she closed it again, her jaw falling open.‘Beloved?’ Have I gotten a letter meant for another?
She knew the letter was not for her sinceshe was no one'sbeloved. She was still at odds with her mother because she was not interested in having a marriage set up for her and always pushed the obnoxious men away. She desired to marry only when she fell in love, so that if she wereanyone's beloved, she would surely know of it.
She opened the letter again and read it through this time, her face contorting as she did.What manner of filth is this?She could not keep the blush off her face. Ann, noticing her coloring, frowned in curiosity, and leaned over to see.
Ann started to giggle almost immediately. “Around your bare shoulders?!” she whispered, quoting the letter as she tried to stifle her laughter.
Hearing the words from her sister’s mouth made Caroline’s face heat up even more. “I know! Who could even conceive such filth, not to mention having the boldness to write it?!” She whispered back to Ann, who was almost falling apart in a fit of giggles.
“Frankly, I am more taken by the fact that he is climbing in through her windows to make her lips ‘succumb’ to his,” her sister said, keeping her voice low.
“Stop!” Caroline scolded in hushed tones, pressing a hand to her sister’s face, and pushing her away.
The snickering Ann dodged her hand and leaned closer. “I, for one, consider it romantic. Although they are having a scandalous affair right now, he seems to want to make an honest woman of her.”
Her sister was right. Although he was filthy, he did seem like a man truly in love. Her gaze dropped to the last line of the letter where there was finally a signature.Alex. I wonder who it is. Perhaps a commoner? No, if he were a commoner, he would not even dream of marrying this lady who is clearly a noble since he needs to sneak in through her window.
Her sister interrupted her thoughts. “Do you reckon that when he says, ‘hold you out in the open’ he means for them to frolic naked on their estate?” Ann whispered.
Caroline, who was tired of Ann’s misbehavior, forgot their mother was there, and smacked her face with the letter. Then, Ann leaned back, also forgetting herself, letting out a cackle.
“Girls.” Their mother’s voice brought them back to reason in an instant. Lady Campbell stared at them with murderous intent. “Let me see that. Just what is causing such foolish behavior.”
Caroline stared at her mother’s outstretched hand, not wanting to give her the letter for how embarrassing it was. But Lady Campbell waited for no one and reached over the table, snatching the letter.
Caroline exchanged a glance with her sister while their mother read, with Ann having the grace to look apologetic. Their mother reacted just as they thought she would; with dramatics.
“Ann, Marjorie, Alice. Give us the room.” Not able to defy their mother, Ann mouthed an apology before the girls vacated the room.
“Caroline Campbell.” Lady Campbell clutched her chest in horror, fanning her face theatrically. “Are you intent on ruining our family name?”
“Mother—” Caroline attempted.
“Caroline, who is this Alex who sneaks through your window at night?” Lady Campbell thundered.
“Mother! How could you think that of me?” Caroline responded, offended.
“Can you blame me with all the nonsense you spout about your loftymarriage expectations? How can I know this is not some ill-fated affair in the name of ‘love’?” her mother said.
“With the way you direct my daily life, I am not quite certain howI'd find the opportunity.” Caroline drew her arms across her chest. “I have not let anyone in my window, and I know no oneby that name.There must be an error in the delivery.”
“A mistake!'Eyes sparkling like sapphire jewels' —youhave blue eyes!" Her mother was exasperated.
