I sighed, looking down at my embroidery. It was quite horrid, to be honest. I never managed to master the craft of decorating fabrics. Somehow I always ended with my pierced fingertips. My sister Jane, on the other hand, was always an artistic soul.

I still terribly missed our little estate by the peaceful beech forest. There, my father taught me how to practice the skill of archery and how to load and shoot a pistol accurately. I know it wasn’t a very lady-like activity, but I liked to feel confident in how to properly protect myself in case if any unfortunate situation should arise.

I also missed the horses and the feeling of wind blowing against my face when I galloped down the hill. I haven’t ridden in years - ever since we had to sell our property to be exact. It was now about five years after we had to leave our lovely home behind.

Well, my yearning for horses would definitely be quenched if I’d marry His Grace Baxter Read. I put my hand over my mouth, quietly giggling at the ludicrous thought.

Suddenly I heard the sound of horses’ hooves clicking down the gravel road before stopping right outside our townhouse. Who could that be? Another suitor perhaps?

I sure hopeed not.

“Lady Ashlyn?” Not long after Janine knocked on my door. “You have visitors,” she announced with a smile.

Before I could ask her who it was a familiar feminine laughter filled the corridor.

Edith, Bonnie and Alison burst through my bedroom door like a wild, wrecking tornado.

“There you are Lady Ashlyn!” Alison beamed.

“How lovely of you that you came to visit me!” I said joyfully before clasping my best friend's hands in mine. I couldn’t help but notice that Edith looked different somehow, much happier. Her eyes sparkled, paired with a wide and bright smile.

“Edith?” I probed. “You are literally glowing! What is going on?” I glanced at Alison and Bonnie, who waggled their eyebrows at me.

“Is it His Grace Andrew?” I inquired her, but the mystery was quickly quenched after seeing her beet red cheeks.

“Well? What happened?” I plopped down on my bed and motioned for her to follow suit.

Edith carefully smoothed down her skirts before sitting next to me. “He invited me for a stroll around Hyde Park. Miss Lydia was with us, my lady’s maid, you know, to chaperone me,” she bit her lip and met our curious stares before continuing further. “It was really lovely.”

“And?” Bonnie pushed on. “This can’t be it.”

“It isn’t,” Edith shook her head. “When he brought me back home we were left to be alone for five minutes,” her face was even more flushed than before. “He… He kissed me,” she admitted.

“Oh, dearie,” Alison giggled. “So how was it? Is he a good kisser?” She leaned forward, her eyes wide-open and ready to swallow Edith’s every word.

“It was incredible,” she glanced back at me. “It was everything we used to read in those secret romance novels… and more, Ashlyn.”

“Of course it would be! He is so handsome,” Bonnie pressed her hands to her heated cheeks, widening her dream-glazed eyes. “I envy you so much.”

“Kisses with fine-looking gentlemen are indeed toe-curling,” Alison sighed.

“Wait,” I cut off their fantasizing. “You two have already kissed a man?” I looked at the twins in sheer wonder.

“Of course we have,” Bonnie smirked. “Don’t tell me you haven’t tried it yet?”

“No, I…” I admitted. “This is my first season after all.”

“I can’t believe it! Not even a servant? Or a handsome gardener?” Alison laughed at my innocence and the lack of courting skills.

“But isn’t it considered scandalous to kiss a man you aren’t betrothed to?”

“No, silly,” Bonnie rolled her eyes. “You simply mustn’t be caught,” her eyes sparkled mischievously when she sent me a conspiring wink.

This particular piece of information didn’t bode well with me. “You must be careful then, Edith! Promise me you will! I would hate to see you suffer if you’d ruin your reputation,” I pleaded with concern, desperately clutching her hands in mine.

“I promise,” she nodded. “You needn’t worry about me.”

After I was somewhat assured she will be careful, I turned my attention back to the mischievous twins. “So, which gentleman have you kissed?”

“Lord Travis,” Alison blurted out, chuckling.

Lord Travis. He was one of Jared’s friends. Horrifically arrogant and entirely in love with his own reflection.

I noticed how Bonnie suspiciously avoided our eyes. “Just … Someone,” she mumbled under her breath.

“No need for modesty, sister! It was Lord Jared. Luckily it was me who caught you!” Alison’s pretty features twisted with annoyance. “You ought to be more observant Bonnie!”

My world came crashing down when I heard her say his name. So Bonnie and Jared already shared a past and an intimate one at that. Was she in love with him?

“Do you love him?” I let the burning question accidentally slip out of my mouth.

“Pardon me?” Bonnie seemed taken away with my frankness. “I …” She nervously licked her lips, chuckling at the severity of my query. “What gave you that idea? Absolutely not!”

But I saw it in her eyes. She was extremely and unquestionably infatuated with him – the way she hastily averted her gaze, the soft glimmer in her eyes and the blush that adorned her cheeks – it was plain to see.

“Excuse me. It’s rude for me to pry into your personal affairs,” I quickly apologized. My heart lurched painfully inside my chest, but I wasn’t naïve enough to believe he was a saint. He was anything but - deemed as a well-known and notorious charmer.

Bonnie’s father was a wealthy Viscount, which meant she had more than enough money. However, to marry a young daughter into the lower class and give her hand to the man without prosperity was also unacceptable.

To rid myself of the plaguing thoughts I focused on the previous topic. “What is so special about kissing anyway?” I inquired before meeting their disbelief-ridden eyes.

“It’s an impulse one cannot resist. Like a magnetic attraction if you will,” Alison offered, looking at the two other girls for affirmation.

“Let’s see…” Bonnie fiddled with her golden bracelet, buried deep in her thoughts. “When your lips touch it feels like an explosion of heat inside your belly,” she giggled anxiously. “You simply cannot pull away.”

“Or say no to him,” Edith added dreamily.

I rubbed my forehead in confusion. I loved Jared from the bottom of my heart and he made my heart skip a beat whenever I saw his handsome face. But never have I felt this potent need to press my lips against his – it was true, his presence made me nervous, however what I felt was something far more tender compared to the feeling of desire they described. Perhaps I was simply too inexperienced to talk about these complex matters.

“Anyhow, how come you haven’t kissed Lord Aidan? I thought you fancied him?” Edith asked.

The difference between liking someone and having them as a potentially fitting suitor was enormous, my dear Edith. “Well, aunt Abby beat me to it,” I giggled at the horrifying turn of events.

“Excuse me?” Bonnie’s head snapped back to me, her eyes wide.

“A few days back he took me and aunt Abby to Kensington Gardens. The minute we were seated my aunt latched herself onto him. It was rather embarrassing.”

“Dear God!” Alison exclaimed. “You poor thing!”

“That wasn’t the end of it,” I stated meaningfully.

“Well don’t leave us in the dark!” Bonnie’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“I wanted to get away from them for a little while, so I went down to the lake. I was feeding ducks when I heard someone address me.”

“Who was it?” Alison squeaked.

“No one else other than His Grace Baxter Read,” I moaned.

“No! You must be jesting!” Edith laughed, slapping her hand over her mouth.

“I only wish I were. I have to admit, you were right.” I dejectedly looked at Alison ad Bonnie. “... But I did learn all about London’s weather forecast… For a whole week!”

A loud laughter erupted in the room.

“Ashlyn dear, you must stay away from him!” Alison wiped her tears away, still giggling.

“I only fear it’s not too late. He clearly set his sights on you my dear,” Bonnie was suddenly far more serious than her sister, the light tone of her voice replaced by the evident caution.

I was not foolish enough to dismiss their guidance the second time around. I had to avoid the man at all costs. If I failed to do so he would appear on our doorstep, asking for my hand in marriage. And I knew for a fact that my Papa wouldn’t turn him down. No man in the right mind who so desperately needed to repay their vast debts would turn down a Duke.