She was trembling with anger, and her maid rushed forward with smelling salts, which her ladyship sniffed gratefully. She was not normally the fainting type, but social disaster had a tendency to distress her a great deal.

"Aunty, surely you cannot mean that?" cried Juliet Moresby, appalled. In truth, she had done everything possible to get herself dismissed from her aunt's home and the insipid boredom of the London Season.

Perhaps boredom was the wrong term for the vast number of balls and parties and afternoons spent driving. Aside from her brother Geoff, Juliet found the company at these numerous routs extremely tiresome. She especially disliked the dandified lords who expected not only her complete ignorance of every interesting topic of conversation, but also her simpering adoration of their own pompous selves. She had shocked a number of them by speaking plainly in her acerbic way. And finally, she had insulted a certain Mr. Brumhest during the quadrille.

"My dear girl, you cannot speak to Mr. Brumhest in such a manner. I..."

"But, Aunty, he kept saying that Miss Iverson ought not to have been invited, as she is horrible to look at. You know and I know that she had the smallpox, and that she is as kind a person as we've ever met. I merely informed Mr. Brumhest that he had no right to criticize other people's guest lists."

"And I'm sure you used delicacy and tact to explain yourself and defend Miss Inversion." Lady Wilcox eyed her niece doubtfully. Her suspicions were confirmed when Juliet hung her head.

"I must confess that I lost my temper. He did so provoke me! Such conceit and ill will."

"Indeed. Well, he cut your acquaintance and recommended to his peers that they not receive you. This is a serious matter that cannot be repaired this Season, I wouldn't think. I cannot chaperon you now, when I cannot even bring you to see my friends. You had best go home for the rest of the Season and take your brothers as an escort. I do so tire of Octavian, though Geoff is pleasant enough."

That was precisely what Juliet wished. Lady Wilcox, however, sighed with regret.

"Oh, Juliet, I know you mean well, but I have never been so mortified. I had to escort you home in shame in front of all my friends, and that wretched Lady Chamblington dared to smile at me! She will have that awkward, cow-faced daughter married before you will be, and she hasn't a feather to fly with! All this, after I have been so kind as to sponsor you since your own dear mama died. She will be turning in her grave now!" Lady Wilcox uttered this last bit tragically, and she punctuated her sentences with shakes of her fan.

Her cheeks were quite pink in spite of their thick layer of maquillage, and Juliet determined that perhaps it was best to tease her aunt no longer. Her Aunt Georgiana was a Great Lady and not easily overset.

"Dearest Aunty, I am terribly sorry for mortifying you. I shall go home to the country now, and you may bring out my cousin Caroline next year who will be just the sort of young lady the Ton would admire exceedingly. As for me, I shall retire a spinster, and that will be your revenge. Can you forgive me?"

Juliet favoured her aunt with a contrite smile, though one of her saucy dimples danced on her cheek. Lady Wilcox, however, did not choose to see the rebellion in her niece, and she drew in a deep breath, satisfied with the apology.

"Your mama's heart would be broken if she knew that you were so determined to remain on the shelf. But go back to the country you like so much. Leave with your brothers tomorrow; I imagine your poor father will not be surprised to see you on his doorstep so soon."

Juliet's smile widened, and she kissed her aunt on her wrinkled cheek. "You have been an angel for keeping me so long, Aunty. I had wagered that we would be returned home this month since."

Lady Wilcox sighed heavily. "The Good Lord may agree with you. Now off with you to gather your things. Society was never meant for one as you, Juliet." The girl was dismissed with a wave of her ladyship's hand and Juliet rushed up the wide staircase of her aunt's fashionable house with unladylike energy. Once in her bedroom, she rang for her abigail so that she could prepare for the next day's journey.

A few minutes into packing, Juliet's brother Geoff appeared at her door. At eighteen, he was one year younger than his sister, though he was at least a foot taller. He had the same dark hair, but his eyes were deep blue rather than Juliet's coffee colour.

Through the grace of a departed uncle, Geoff was made wealthy at a young age, and he was handsome and charming besides. He was quite popular with the mamas and their daughters in spite of the fact that he was not due to inherit his father's title, Earl of Cantonshire. That honour would be bestowed on Geoff's older brother Octavian, who at twenty-one, was showing a considerable lack of promise.

Octavian did not have half the intelligence or the charm of his younger siblings, and his brilliance for spending money far outshone his ability to save it. Fortunately, the family was wealthy enough to handle Octavian's habits for quite a few years yet, but Lord Cantonshire despaired that his oldest son would ever learn responsibility.

Geoff, on the other hand, had marvelous luck both in gambling and investment. He was a master judge of horseflesh and had complete control over his own stables at Cantonshire Abbey. In spite of his youth, other gentlemen frequently looked to him for advice when they were purchasing cattle necessary on their hunts. Geoff was also dangerous with both pistol and sword, and he was well on his way to becoming a Corinthian of the first order. Some mamas sighed that he had to be burdened with such an odd sister.

The girl was well-looking, to be sure, but she had a disturbing tendency to demonstrate undesirable intelligence and affection for vigorous exercise and hunting, which were best left to men. Lady Juliet Moresby was quite likely to remain on the shelf despite her beauty and considerable dowry of sixty thousand pounds.

Now Geoff was standing at his sister's doorway, and when he saw her exuberant expression he laughed aloud, not caring that his aunt might hear him. "You've finally worn out our welcome, have you, Jules?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Much to the dismay of her abigail, Juliet was busy carelessly shoving her undergarments into a valise, and grinned mischievously. "I shall have another summer of play at Cantonshire Abbey rather than the dreary restriction of town life. I know that you are glad to escort me home, Geoff. You dislike the simpering misses here as much as I do."

"Juliet, you cannot be a child forever," said a third voice. Octavian had just returned home from his club, and judging from his expression, his luck had gone its usual route. He was shorter and stockier than his younger brother and his taste in fashion was not so excellent. He had his admirers nevertheless, and along with them came an inflated idea of his own consequence and a preachy air which Juliet did not appreciate.

"Lost another thousand at the tables, I see," she returned promptly. "I can be a child as long as I like, dear brother. I'm rich enough not to need a husband."

"Now, Jules, supposing you find a man that you love?" teased Geoff, entering the room with his brother. "After all, it's highly improper to fall in love, so I imagined that you would embrace the sentiment with all haste."

The two young men seated themselves on Juliet's bed in spite of the furious looks directed them by Juliet's abigail. She did not think it proper for any sort of gentleman to be in her mistress' bedchamber, even if they were her brothers.

Juliet gave up packing, to her abigail Maggie's sigh of relief, and sat down between her brothers. She leaned her head on Geoff's shoulder and poked Octavian teasingly in the ribs. "I shan't find anyone half so wonderful as you two," she said, but she was grinning so wickedly that Geoff pinched her on the cheek.

"Saucy minx! No man in England deserves you!"

"Do you wish to leave the burden of a spinster sister on your brothers, Juliet?" Octavian declared with his insufferable air.

"How insulting you are! I've enough income to live comfortably for the rest of my life without burdening either of you in the least." Juliet jumped up and shook her finger at each of her brothers in turn. "Now leave me and see to your own packing. Maggie is about to expire in a fit of propriety and I have sorely provoked her this evening."