One eligible bachelor, three beautiful women, one family rivalry…
When the Countess of Nevern writes to say that her son, Viscount Pamyngton, is unexpectedly returning home to Nevern Hall, Lady Denham sees a perfect opportunity for one of her daughters to capture him in holy matrimony.
The only question is which girl will he choose?
Of the three Denham girls currently out in society, Eleanor is deemed the most attractive, even if she is rather young, and quite fancies the idea of marrying Pamyngton and becoming the next Countess of Nevern. Louisa, the eldest, cares not a jot for Pamyngton or his title, as her heart lies elsewhere — she is hopelessly in love with a clergyman whose meagre living makes him an entirely unsuitable suitor. And Catherine is an impetuous little minx, who often speaks without thinking and is far too flighty to be the wife of a viscount!
This is not the first time a union between Nevern and Denham has been contemplated. Plans were once made for a marriage between Pamyngton and Fanny Denham, the oldest of the six Denham girls, but when the viscount fell madly in love with the beautiful Georgiana Eversley, the wedding was cancelled. Fanny is now happily married to a colonel and residing in Brighton — and Louisa, Catherine, and Eleanor have been greatly looking forward to visiting their sister on a bit of a holiday. But Pamyngton’s arrival at Nevern Hall throws these intentions into disarray.
Lady Denham has absolutely no intention of letting any of her girls out of her sight as long as Pamyngton remains nearby. But Catherine has other ideas and determines that she shall just have to make her way to Brighton herself. Her adventure quickly runs afoul as she discovers the dangers of being a solitary young woman walking the roads with neither protection nor money.
So when a mysterious stranger helps her to return home unscathed she is deeply grateful.
However, Catherine is mortified to discover the next day that her handsome stranger is the very same Viscount Pamyngton that her mother desires her to marry. Desperate to avoid further embarrassment, she does her best to avoid Pamyngton all together.
But it’s only when he starts to take an interest in her older sister Louisa that Catherine realises her true feelings. Is she already too late…?
Alice Chetwynd Ley is the author of several historical and contemporary romances, including ‘A Season at Brighton’, ‘The Toast of the Town’, ‘The Georgian Rake’ and ‘The Guinea Stamp’.
