Chapter 1
August 1821- Bath, England
“Lydia, is that your sister?”
Lydia’s friend Lysandra Russell pointed to a group of young men hovering around a delicate, petite figure in the middle of the crowded assembly room. Even at this distance, Lydia recognized her younger sister’s fine-boned face and far too pretty features: the flaxen hair, the cornflower-blue eyes, and the lovely rosebud mouth that left every man she met ready to come to blows over her attention and her honor.
“Oh heavens, what has Portia gone and done now?” Lydia muttered. She stepped closer to Lysandra, who chuckled and waved her dark-blue silk fan patterned with silver stars.
“I believe she’s convinced the men to wager for spots on her dance card. If anyone discovers that, she might be cast out of the assembly rooms
