1 Prologue

Yorkshire

1852

Miss Maryann Liverbert grinned as she took one more glimpse at herself on the vanity mirror in her bed-chamber, and concluded she looked elegant and could pass as beautiful according to society's description, in her blue evening gown which she had worn for lady Kingsley’s annual masquerade ball. Her lady maid had affirmed her “perfect” in words, as she believed the midnight blue dress had set up her hazel eyes, making her look magical. Her blond hair had been packed up in a loose bun, allowing some stray strands to fall softly on her face. She was prepared.

As the Liverbert carriage came to a halt at Kenworthy townhouse, her uncle climbed down, and assisted her aunt down first, followed by her, then Prudence her cousin who is younger than her by a year ( Prudence was eighteen), they ascended the stairs and as they reached the great hall, the butler announced their entrance. About thirty minutes later, Ann spied Mr. James moving toward her, and realized that Jane might have been right.

Ann had been looking forth to this day since she had attended her first ball, this is to say, it was her first season.

The reason for her long wait was because she suspected that she had great chances of Mr. James Kliner asking her hand in marriage. Ann never longed for him, she barely even liked him, she had only been told that he seemed interested in her.

Jane (her lady maid) had told her the news, in these words “he has been drooling over you for a fortnight” and well just like every other unmarried debutant, she had felt flattered especially as he was one of the catches of the season, plus she desperately wished to leave her relatives home. Logically, it all felt like the perfect escape.

“Good evening Miss Ann” she replied his greeting as he kissed her hand.

“a pleasant evening to you Mr. James" she answered with a perfectly practiced bow.

He smiled, as he commended her gown as he usually did. They conversed about casual topics after which he saved a dance on her card, then he asked that they should go out for fresh air, as the room was beginning to become noisy and humid, with well-dressed aristocrats making acquaintance and greeting one another, she agreed and signaled to Prudence that she was outside.

Outside, she felt the cool breeze on her face, as she breathed it in, suddenly discovering how hot it was inside the ballroom

“What?” He asked looking at her.

“I love the cool evening breeze on my face” she responded.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said. Ann smiled at the sudden compliment taking it as a good sign.

“Thank you” she looked at his eyes and felt a cold shiver down her spine, she did not like the way he was gazing at her, like a piece of meat that he could snatch without anyone taking notice. Ann was still wondering if the look on his face could be caused by the cold outside. He mumbled something about apricots and lips as he dragged her to a corner, once she felt his lips on her, she did not like it, so adrenaline had her use every iota of vigor in her to push him off. For a slim man, he was quite strong, she could hardly move particularly as he already had her pinned to the wall, by the time she heard her aunt's shriek.

“What in Christs' name is going on here?” Mr. James jumped off her with a smug smile lining his lips, to see her aunt scowling face and her cousin staring disinterestedly.

The rest that happened was in a blur for Ann, she was escorted into the carriage, where everyone sat looking drawn, though it was always tensed in the carriage, Prudence would have agreed with her that it was far tenser than the usual dose, except Prudence wasn't sitting close enough to offer an opinion. She later found herself in her uncle's study, with her aunt uttering unladylike curses, her uncle describing how disappointed he was at her behavior, Mr. James sputtering how she had forced herself on him, Prudence staring out the window still disinterested, and she wondered how mindless, and unseeing her family was proving to be, even her father had accused her of being the cause of her mother and brothers' death a few years ago and for once she had been happy to leave home for her all-girls boarding school.

Ann has always been thankful that her uncle, her father's youngest brother who inherited the name, took her in since her father was deceased, she did not have a sibling anymore (her only brother had died at a young age). She knew she was a burden to the family, and her aunt made sure she reminded her at every chance she got (she conceded with her, as she had four cousins and one on the way).

Her uncle Andrew had been generous enough to be responsible for her season, and so she never wished to add more cost by hampering into marriage.

But not like this, she did not want to enter into a marriage of self-pity. And so she tried giving reasonable explanations, why it was not likely for her to intimidate a full-grown, presumed gentleman and still be shoved under him, but no one seemed to be paying attention to her or anyone, so she just gave up her chatter as her throat was hurting.

“You will have to get married to Mr. James,” her uncle said

“But...” She started and was interrupted by her aunt's scowl, although Ann might have initially thought about marrying Mr. James a few hours ago, she suddenly realized how pitiful she would feel, spending the rest of her life with such an utterly dishonest man.

“Goddammit, Ann you have been compromised her uncle cursed" Ann could only blink as she had never heard her uncle curse.

“I cannot spend the rest of my life with someone so shameless.......” James started. Ann barely suppressed a chuckle and everyone finally turned to her.

“And whatever the case, she still has her virginity intact, I won't put myself in a tight situation because of her stupid act” James concluded his first audibly completed sentence.

Ann smiled at his complete lack of sense.

“She can't continue to live in this household, I can't have her influence on my Prudence....” Her aunt loud voice boomed in the room as the unspoken ...she's an extra mouth to feed... hung in the air.

Her uncle just stared uncomfortably wondering what to do with his errant niece.

“Well, she will have to leave...” Her aunt announced.

“And where will I go,” Ann asked trying not to blink the tears out of her eyes as her well-planned world came crumbling down.

“To London” all eyes turned to Prudence whom they had forgotten was still in the room.

“...you can start all over there” she added looking very uncomfortable with the attention she had gained. She had always liked to be unnoticed, she was always slipping in and out of gatherings unnoticed Ann generally liked her, everyone did, she was a nice girl except she was too nice sometimes or even timid and was easily influenced by her mother especially. She had brown eyes and hair and even though she wasn't blinding beautiful, she could still pass as beautiful when done up.

“Prudence is right, Ann you will be moving to London by the end of the season” her uncle finally decided, snapping her out of her thought.

“But the season just began, it will take at least six weeks before it ends.....you should just marry her off to one of your tenants' sons” Her aunt complained.

“Marie if she leaves before then suspicions will be raised, and they won't reflect well on your daughter... Prudence" her uncle replied, getting irritated.

"Very well you must leave after the season, and not a day more" her aunt announced.

And so she left after the season...