Prologue

Lady Evelyn listened as best she could, with her ear to the door of her father’s study, and knew her sister had angered their father more then ever before. She knew her father could not help his anger, because her sister was a spoiled brat and didn’t know how lucky she really was to have a gentleman such as Lord Gavin make such an offer. He was the most handsomest and kindest man she had ever met, well next to her father, and he always brought her some kind of present on his visits except for this one time and the first time he ever called on her sister.
Then she heard her father tell her seventeen year old sister, Sarah, something she never thought she would here him say to her.
“Ever since your mother died, I have tried to take care of you and your sister, the best I could and I never wanted you girls to want for anything but I see I have been wrong in my dealings with you. You are spoiled, disrespectful, and in need of a good whooping. You hear me girl?”
“Father, you can’t mean it, because I am the talk of the season. Is that not something to be proud of?”
“That is irrelevant to what you are doing this day. What is so wrong with Lord Gavin? He is gentleman among gentlemen. His character is remarkable. He seems to have strong affections for you.” Evelyn heard her father say with a defeated sigh.
“Why should someone as admired as I sink so low as to marry myself to the second son of a marquis? I should have been the one to be engaged to his brother, and not that pale, unsightly mousy creature, but me!” She could hear her sister whine barely below screaming.
“You young lady need to keep your voice down. Lord Gavin is in the next room. Do you want him to hear you?” She heard her father ask with so much distress in his voice. She pitied father and knew that every gray hair upon is head was due in most part to her sister. Nothing was ever good enough for her. Nothing.
Sarah had wanted her own pony when she was thirteen. So father got her one. Then she complained because it was brown instead of white. Her father then bought a white one. Then she had the nerve to say she meant she wanted a black one. She couldn’t believe her father did as she asked. Her sister was enough of a headache for their father and that is why she did her best to be a grateful and respectable daughter. He had his hands full with Sarah.
She heard her sister‘s usual fast pacing by the sound of her skirts swishing back and forth when she was pouting and then she yelled her firm declaration. “I do not care. I will not marry him. No matter what you say father? He was just a pon that I no longer need anymore. I should have made it clear to him when I saw his brother’s engagement announcement, in the paper, that I did not return his affections. All that work for nothing. Lord Andrew was suppose to be mine.”
There was silence and then the voice of her father again spoke. “Lord Andrew has been infatuated with Lady Catherine for some time now. You and most of the ton already knew that and you purposely used an innocent gentleman to carry out your shameful scheme. You disappoint me child more then you will ever know. I can’t even bare to look at you right now. Leave my study and retire to your room. I will speak of this no more. Lord Gavin does not deserve this kind of treatment.”
“That is just fine with me. I deserve more then what he can offer.” She heard her sister now approaching the door and hurriedly went and hid behind the staircase. She watched as her sister almost ran up the staircase and then heard the slamming of her bedroom door.
Just as she was about to come out of her hiding place, her father walked out, and entered the room that poor Lord Gavin awaited. She then ran up to the door and planted her ear to it and listened to what now transpired between her father and Lord Gavin.
The voice of Lord Gavin was spoken before her father could say a word. “Sir, there is no need to explain the situation, because I have just overheard. I understand that Lady Sarah has no desire to enter into any union with me and shows no affection toward me whatsoever. So, I will take my leave, and I wish you and your family all health and happiness. Good day.”
This time she heard his footsteps approaching the door but halted at the words of her father. “Lord Gavin, please, let me extend my sincerest apologies for my daughter’s behavior. I did not know any of this until now. If I had known of her intentions before this then I would never have let it go this far. I do hope you will not hold a grudge against our family because of her unladylike antics? This is not how I planned this all to go.”
“Nor I. Do not worry yourself, Lord William, because I do not hold anything against you. You have been very considerate and I think highly of your family. I am just sorry that I could not secure your daughter’s affections. I hope your afternoon is well and I will see myself out.”
Again she heard his footsteps and ran to hide behind the stairs. He walked out and just the sight of him took her breath away. He was tall, with sandy blonde hair, eyes the color of the emerald, and he filled out his coat quite well. He was beautiful. His smile was always there even without a grin but she could now see only pain there. If she were only seventeen and not twelve, she would have married him, and would have been the happiest girl in the world. Her sister was an idiot. This man was perfect.
She felt the need to do something, say something, and just as he was about to turn the door handle, to exit the house, she ran up to him. The look of surprise on his face was evident and she knew his mind was already churning from everything that had happened already.
“Well, Lady Evelyn, where did you come from?” he looked at her then scanned the area puzzled.
“Lord Gavin, I’ll marry you, and I will make you happy again,” she couldn’t believe what she was saying. She was being ridiculously childish. Then she saw the smile return to his eyes and then it slowly crept to his mouth and it made her feel better.
“Well, it seems you have been ease dropping little one. . .but I very much doubt your father would like the idea. What do you think?”
She saw a little sadness enter his eyes again for a moment and then quickly flitter away. “I suppose not.”
“Well, one day you will make your father proud, because you Lady Evelyn have a beautiful heart. When your time comes, I see you being the most lovely woman ever to grace the season, you will marry a good, decent gentleman and live happily ever after. That is your destiny little one.”
Suddenly it was in her mind and out of her mouth before she could stop it, “Will you promise me something, Gavin?”
“What’s that little one?”
“That if you are not married by the time I come of age that you will marry me.”
Gavin looked at her with a slight shock on his face and almost disbelief. Then he knelt down and spoke with a gentle tone, “By that time, I will be old, out of style, and you will not want anything to do with me. But we can be friends. Right?”
“No, I will always think you are wonderful. Will you promise?”
Gavin thought well of Lady Evelyn and always enjoyed her company. He thought that she was the little sister he never had. He didn’t want to break her little heart. He just couldn’t do it. His was already broken and he very well didn’t want to do it to another, especially a child. She would forget as time went on.
He smiled and answered, “Of course, Lady Evelyn. When the time comes, and I am still unwed then I will marry you.”
She nodded and he rose back to his feet. He said a last goodbye and walked out the door.
She knew he thought she would forget since she was still a child but soon enough he would learn that she would hold him to that promise.