Lady Cantrell had kept the appointments she had made only she had done so without the company of her niece. As Lady Foxcroft droned on and on about what... Lady Cantrell could not say, she thought of her conversation with Mr. Kane.

He had surprised her when he proclaimed not wanting the fortune he knew was coming to her niece. Still she had her reservations. He was self-made, not a member of the Ton. Whatever monies he claimed to have received must have been made through unscrupulous ventures. How else could one so young be so solvent?

"You see what I mean, Augusta?"

Lady Cantrell who had stopped listening quite some time ago, was forced to admit, "I am sorry to say I have drifted. I have much on my mind."

Lady Foxcroft looked stunned to discover that her friend was not listening to her but as she had her own agenda to press she repeated her statement.

"My nephew, Lord Foxcroft, I believe would be a perfect match for your niece. Certainly, it would be in both their best interests to be introduced after she is presented at court."

"Your nephew?" Lady Cantrell tried to remember if she had ever met the boy.

"He has been studying abroad and has recently returned. He is just the right age to turn his mind to settling down and I have no doubt your niece to be an excellent match for him."

Lady Cantrell could not recall anything about him, but politely said, "I will be certain they are introduced."

This pleased Lady Foxcroft immensely. "When is Annabelle to be presented at court?"

"We have received word that her application has been accepted, but not a time when she is to be presented. Given the state of King George I was surprised that the Queen was accepting applications, but I imagine it may be sometime before we are told when we are to arrive."

"I see," Lady Foxcroft said looking disappointed. "Well, perhaps you could hold a ball for her?"

"It would be improper to do so before she is formally presented," Lady Cantrell said, surprised Lady Foxcroft would even consider the idea possible.

"Yes, yes, of course. I was just thinking of your niece. It would be a shame if she missed her fair share of entertainment because she is waiting on the whims of the Queen but you are quite right, you would not want to upset the royal family."

"Quite right," Lady Cantrell echoed, taking out her pocket watch. "My look at the time. I must be going. I promised my niece I would return to check in on her."

Again, Lady Foxcroft looked disappointed. "If you must. I do hope the child feels well soon."

"Thank you," Lady Cantrell said, and promptly took her leave.

Upon arriving home she found her niece in a much-altered state. She was just sitting in front of her canvas, staring. If she did not know better she would have sworn the girl had been crying.

"Annabelle has something happened. Have you had news from home?"

Annabelle quickly scrubbed at her face, "No Aunt, I am ... I am just feeling homesick and so feel a little out of sorts at the moment."

Ms. Pratt had announced that dinner was ready and the two had followed her inside. Lady Cantrell had taken several long glances at her niece as they walked. If it were possible she would say her niece had appeared somewhat dimmed.

At dinner there was little small talk. Annabelle had told her about the progress on her painting and Lady Cantrell told her about her visits with her friends. Annabelle felt bad that she had to attend to so much alone.

They heard a knock on the door, and the butler had returned with a letter, which had upon it the royal seal. Both Annabelle and her Aunt looked at it with wide eyes.

Her Aunt opened it and read the contents. "Oh my!"

"What is it Aunt Augusta?"

"You will be presented to the Queen in two weeks!"

"Two weeks?" Annabelle gasped.

"That does not give us much time. Thankfully your dress should be ready before then. I hope there are no last minute alterations needed."

"Two weeks," Annabelle whispered quietly. She knew it was coming, but in two weeks she will be presented at court. In two weeks, she will no longer be just Lady Annabelle Bentley but required to play the part, to find a match and marry.

"Annabelle?" Lady Cantrell looked at her niece. She looked suddenly pale. "Are you well?"

"I am feeling a little peaked. May I be excused?"

"Of course," her Aunt said and Annabelle retired to her room.

"Two weeks," Annabelle chanted as she paced her room. "In two weeks, I'll be presented, and then will come the flurry of balls, dinners, and outings." All so she can be shown off like some prized mare.

In two weeks her life as she knows it ends, in two weeks the life she must live begins. She thought of Mr. Kane, the kiss and collapsed on her bed. Why could it not be him? After the way she left him cold, she guessed he decided she would not make him a very good wife. His disappointment was clearly visible in his face.

Well, if not him, then it matters not who. Any match will do. She would take her Aunt's council and be done with it.

Lady Cantrell was busy making preparations to be certain her niece was ready for her big debut. Her butler entered her den, "Lady Cantrell? Mr. Harris to see you, Marm."

"At this hour?" Lady Cantrell asked stunned.

"He refuses politely to leave until he has spoken with you, Marm."

Lady Cantrell sighed. "Send him in."

"What is the meaning of this interruption, Mr. Harris?" Lady Cantrell asked, upon him entering her den.

"You know very well why I'm here Augusta and don't even try to pretend innocence. I thought after all this time..." Mr. Harris paced the room. His anger had him nearly vibrating.

"I do not and how could I?" Lady Cantrell stated, blandly, "And sit down, Mr. Harris! You will wear out my rugs."

Mr. Harris nearly made it to a chair but then sprung up again. "Oh No! Not until I have said my piece."

"Well, say it and be done with it," Lady Cantrell admonished.

"How could you do it? How could separate them? Has not the years of desolation you spent in your own loveless marriage taught you nothing?"

Anger filled Lady Cantrell's features, nearly rage but her tone was deceivingly calm. "You are on shaky ground, Sir. I suggest you think carefully of your next few words if you do not wish to be thrown out in the street with them."

"I know you spurned my advance towards you. I would have liked to believe it was because you were in love with my best friend all those years ago, but you threw us both to the curb. To marry... well," Mr. Harris spat the last word like it left a vile taste in his mouth.

Lady Cantrell stormed over to him, and without thought, lifted her hand to strike only he grabbed her wrist. "Oh no Augusta, not this time. You do not get to play the injured party. Not when the ones so grievously treated are your niece and Mr. Kane."

Lady Augusta only stared at him, the confusion starting to subside the fight in her. "What of them?"

"You deny driving them apart?"

"I spoke with Mr. Kane. I laid out my terms. He is not a viable candidate for my niece."

"Why? Because he's a self-made man like me? Because he had to fight for what he's earned instead of having it handed to him like the Ton? I had higher hopes for you than that. I had hoped you had learned your life lesson but I see you have not."

He let go of her wrist and stepped away from her.

"I'll leave you with this. Mr. Kane would be a devoted husband, a good caregiver, and given time I have no doubt they would find happiness if not love. But if you continue to refuse him then you have doomed her to misery of the gravest kind."

Annabelle opened the door. She had heard them yelling when she came down to get her painting. She astonished them all by saying,

"You are out of line, Sir! And you are wrong about me, Mr. Kane, and most of all my Aunt! I will not have someone who speaks to her with such disrespect continue to be in our home." She handed him the painting, saying, "Take it and leave at once."

Mr. Harris bowed to her, ignored the painting, and said, "You are right, Lady Annabelle. If you are correct, then you are more like your Aunt than I had realized and do not deserve him. Good evening to you both." They heard the door shut behind him.

Annabelle wondered at his words but was more worried about Aunt. Aunt Augusta looked visibly shaken by the conversation. She did not know what to say and only stared at her niece who suddenly appeared years older. Annabelle wanted to relieve her Aunts' concerns.

"I am ready to take your instruction, Aunt. I am ready to think of my family above myself. I will marry whomever you deem fit."