Never the Bride

Miss Tabitha Chesworth is walking down the aisle for the third time, but never as the bride. Frustrated with being passed over, there's nothing that a well-born lady can do about it. But at four and twenty, she's starting to worry that this is her lot in life - until a fiery encounter with the Duke of Axwick. Richard St Maur, sixteenth in his line, has sworn an oath never to marry.

Lady Charlotte St Maur is a spinster. Invited to dances as a chaperone rather than a dance partner, it's all she can do to keep back tears as match after match is made - with her help. But a lady over thirty, no matter the title, doesn't find true love. William Lennox, Duke of Mercia, never expected to come to fame and fortune, and never thought anything could be more tiring than soldiering - except the marriage market. He needs to make a good match, but no matter how many young chits he's introduced to, it's always the chaperone who catches his eye.

Lady Honora Lennox hasn't gone by that name in three years - not since she was abducted and forced to work in a brothel. She's but nineteen and has given up on the world offering her anything of kindness. Until he walks through her door. Josiah Stanhope, Earl of Chester, is exhausted with politics and games, deceit and lies - it's time for simplicity, and there's nothing simpler than the clear cut exchange of coin for pleasure. And yet there's something different about this girl.

Lady Harriet Stanhope grew up with her twin brother and his friends, never questioning their laughter or their games - but now she's a young lady, she's desperate for one friend in particular to see her in a different light. But after twenty years of knowing each other, she's just the best friend, not a serious contender for the Duke of Devonshire's heart. Montague Cavendish knows what is due to him and his family name, and he is not fool enough to wish for a love match. He'll find a pretty young thing with plenty of money, and that will be that.

Lady Letitia Cavendish is a Cavendish, but only a cousin of the current Duke so even her name isn't enough for potential suitors to court her. She's a wallflower, terrified of putting herself forward, and so life continues on without her. But at two and twenty, things are getting desperate. The most confident rake in town, Edward Wynn, is a handsome devil - and being the Viscount of Stulsemere doesn't hurt. When, despite his best efforts, he's partnered with the most boring lady at Almack's, he resigns himself to twenty minutes of silence.

Miss Mariah Wynn was adopted and has spent her life attempting to prove herself worthy. Intelligent and witty, it's nonetheless not a good idea to let a gentleman know you actually have brains. After all, no one marries the bluestocking, even if she is beautiful and but twenty one. One man who laughs in the face of bluestockings is Patrick O'Leary, Viscount Donal. He knows the woman's place, and that is most certainly in the home.

What had Miss Priscilla Seton been thinking? She had always assumed that Charles would stay the same forever, but bowing to familial wishes he is now engaged—and Priscilla is determined to sabotage the match. She has known him for all her twenty years, and he is hers. But Charles Audley, Duke of Orrinshire, is facing pressures of his own. His marriage arranged for him, there's not a single day that goes by without him regretting Priscilla. Of course, he could never say anything. His family honor is at stake, and he would never betray them—but letting off a little steam?

Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke does not believe there is anything greater than matching the perfect pair—and she's become rather expert in it. Never mind that she's never found the missing half to her own soul and body. Perhaps that's not her lot in life, even at the age of eight and twenty. Her own failure is Albemarle Howard, Earl of Lenskeyn. He's rude, he's arrogant, he's overly confident, and nothing Theodosia can do makes a difference. Albemarle has found his match though: and he is sure it is Theodosia.

Always the widow and never again the bride—her one chance of happiness lost… Mrs. Elizabeth Howard had believed her marriage to be a love match; she was wrong. So when a stranger offers her something she simply cannot refuse, she consoles herself with the knowledge that no one will ever know. Until nine months later. Because after her husband dies and leaves her a widow, Elizabeth does have some perks. She's well-respected, of course, and no one questions whether the child is a Howard or not…