Chapter 1
Baltimore, Maryland 1842
The music of a stringed quartet wafted through the air as Lydia de Lisle gathered her gown and hurried down the stairs. The change in tune could only mean one thing—Henry had arrived at last. Even though she’d seen him just a week before at the nuptials, she was impatient to see him again, and she couldn’t imagine not being present when he stepped through the grand entrance of the de Lisle’s estate, Chateau de Papillon. Lydia wanted her face to be the first one he’d see.
There was a crowd of other family members and close friends gathered at the foot of the stairs, but Lydia fought her way through, using her elbows when a polite, “Pardon me,” wasn’t sufficient. Only a few of her elder aunts looked appalled at the young lady’s behavior. Lydia would have
