Chapter 1

Two Years Later

"Did you see what Miss Brighton was wearing to Lady Steel's ball last night?"

"How could I not!" One of them gave a cruel smile. "A gown like that positively demands attention."

Lilian tried to keep her expression as natural as she could manage as she forced herself to listen to the women around her prattle on. It was another of the Duchess of Stark's garden parties, which meant another day spent sitting at the single ladies' table, gossiping about whatever happened at last night's ball.

Actually, that wasn't quite right. It never even got to the point where they would talk about what happened. Usually, they just talked about what everyone was wearing.

This in and of itself wasn't a problem. Lilian had a deep love of fashion and clothing. If all they wanted was to talk about the latest in fabrics and lace designs, then she would have been happy to partake.

But of course, that was never how this seemed to go.

As she sipped her fragrant tea, Lilian marveled that she ever dreamed about this.

Even though it was only her second Season, she couldn't wait for it to be over.

"It was absolutely atrocious!" one of them who was long into her third Season, Lady Beatrice Stark, gasped in exaggerated horror.

The only daughter of their host, she had a wide circle of acquaintances in the ton and seemed to represent everything about this place that Lilian longed to escape. She was a tall, slender woman with curly red hair and dark brown eyes. If she had a kinder temperament, she could have been a beautiful woman, but the second someone could have thought so, she opened her mouth.

"Goodness, that yellow! What was she thinking!"

"It seems rather obvious that she wasn't thinking. Otherwise, why would she ever set foot outside the house!" one of the others eagerly agreed with her.

It didn't seem to matter what she said, at least three people would agree with her, and this was no exception.

"Not only was it unsightly, but it looked so…" She paused searching for the right word. "Well, we all know she doesn't have the best sewing skills, but I never would have expected her to try and make her own dress."

Her horde of sycophants laughed as though she'd said something profoundly funny or clever rather than simply mean-spirited.

Lilian couldn't help herself. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, "I quite liked the neckline of her dress. I thought the embroidery was lovely."

Everyone at the table fell silent, eyes flicking between Lilian and Beatrice. After a moment, the red-haired woman laughed.

"Very amusing, Miss Cooke, but we all know you have far better taste than that. After all, your gowns are always some of the loveliest in the room."

"That's kind of you, but I am completely serious. I think Miss Brighton's dress was charming. She clearly put a lot of time and care into what she wore."

"Then I fear to see what she would come up with in a rush."

They erupted in laughter.

Taking a deep breath, Lilian pushed away from the table. "Please excuse me for a moment. I need to stretch my legs."

"Come now, we're among friends. You don't need to worry about what you say here. Give us your honest opinions."

She got to her feet, holding Lady Beatrice's gaze. "I have. I think Miss Brighton looked lovely. I, for one, would love to get the name of her dressmaker."

She spun on her heels, stomping over to the hedge maze. Once she was hidden among its walls, she let out a breath, her smile falling from her face. The hedges were tall, close to seven feet. Most of them were simple greenery, but some had small bursts of flowers nestled among them. There were a handful of benches scattered about where people could sit for private talks, but the whole thing seemed blessedly deserted.

She couldn't believe this was the life she couldn't wait for. In less than a year, it was all too clear that everything she'd hoped for was just a fairytale. Even the dream of true love at first sight that she'd once had felt so far away.

As she walked, her thoughts inevitably turned to her father. Solomon wasn't doing well. He was stable for the moment, but who knew how long it would last?

The doctor cautioned against potential stress and upsets, but here she was now, well into her second Season and still unmarried.

She didn't even have a suitor.

She didn't even have someone she wished was a suitor.

She couldn't remember the last time she felt even a passing interest in any of the men she'd met. The more time crept by, the more her wedding and its accompanying happily ever after seemed less like her future and more like something from a child's storybook.

Lilian was so consumed by her own thoughts that she didn't see anyone coming until she rounded the corner and slammed into a broad male chest.

"Oh, goodness! I'm so sorry," she stammered, quickly fixing her polite smile back on her face and smoothing out her long pale blue skirt. "My apologies. I should have been paying more attention."

He just grunted in response, a deep sound that Lilian felt in her own chest.

That was the last straw. She whipped her head up, but barbs and demands died on her lips when she saw his face.

He was incredibly tall, her head barely coming up to his broad shoulders. He was dressed in a simple dark green jacket with shining gold buttons holding it shut over a white undershirt. The ends of his cravat were held in place by a small gold pin. Dark hair framed a face that would have been pleasant if it wasn't for his expression.

His light blue eyes were hard and narrowed, mouth twisted into a deep scowl. For a moment, she was too stunned to speak, but after a second, she found her voice.

"Excuse me, but I apologized. The polite thing to do would be to accept it then to let me pass!"

He rolled his eyes, cocking his head. "Would it? How odd. I thought the polite thing would be to avoid running into someone in the first place."

Lilian felt her face flush. "Well, it isn't as if I did it on purpose!"

"No? Are you sure about that?"

"Why would I want to crash into you?"

The man shrugged. "How should I know? Perhaps you incorrectly thought it would be a good way to strike up a conversation."

She clenched her hands at her sides. "I fail to see why anyone would want to talk to you!"

"Is that right?"

"It is!"

He stepped closer.

Lilian narrowly resisted the urge to step back.

Leaning in, he whispered, "Then why are you still here?"

"I-I don't want to be. In fact, I'm about to walk away right now."

"Then do it." He stepped away.

Lilian was about to turn to go, but she couldn't stand the smug look on his face. "Why do I need to be the one to go?"

"What?"

"When you think about it, you crashed into me as much as I bumped into you. I apologized, but you've made no acknowledgment of your role in any of this."

"Because I haven't done anything. You said your peace, so why don't you just run along?"

He tried to wave her off, but Lilian crossed her arms. "No!" Her mouth set in a stubborn line. She took a seat on a nearby stone bench. "I don't think I'll be going anywhere, but you are more than welcome to leave if you'd like."

He studied her for a moment before he shrugged, moving to sit beside her.

She hopped to her feet. "What are you doing?"

"I was on my way to sit here when you crashed into me. I see no reason to let you derail my plans."

For a moment, Lilian just stood there, outrage building inside her. Without another word, she spun on her heels and stomped out of the garden.

She could hear the man laughing behind her.

She made her way over to the table where her mother was chatting with some of her friends.

When Rachel saw her face, her smile faltered. "Lilian, is everything all right?"

"I'm afraid I'm getting a bit of a headache. I think I'd like to go home. Perhaps lie down for a bit?"

"But you've only just arrived!" the Duchess of Stark frowned.

Rachel turned to her with a dazzling smile. "If Lilian isn't feeling well, it can't be helped. I do hate to slip out early. I'll stop by tomorrow, and we can catch up." She turned back to her daughter. "Why don't you head over to the carriage? I'll be along in a moment."

Lilian sighed. "Of course. Please try not to take too long."

She made her way to the front of the house, where the carriage would pull up as soon as her mother started walking over.

It wasn't that bad. She only kept her waiting for another few minutes.

Once they were on the road, her mother spoke again. "Did something happen?"

Lilian shook her head. "I just have a headache, honest."

"If this is about your father, he's doing much better. You don't need to worry so much."

"It really is just a headache this time."

Rachel studied her for a moment then sat back with a sigh. "If you say so, but you should enjoy yourself more. You put too much pressure on yourself."

"I'll try to relax more, but I am enjoying myself." Lilian forced a smile. "You don't need to worry about me."

Rachel studied her for a moment then sighed. "Very well. Have you thought about what you'd like to wear tomorrow night?"

"Not yet."

"Your new dress should be in. Why don't you wear that? You can even borrow one of my necklaces if you like."

Lilian forced a smile. "That sounds lovely."

"Wonderful! I have a few ideas already!"

Lilian found herself nodding along as her mother gushed about what she could wear and who she would dance with. She let herself drift on the pleasant sound of her voice. Her eyes drifted to the window, where she watched the people bustle along the streets.

She couldn't help but wish she was out there with them.