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and her ward, Sarah, to come live with them. Sarah was older than Mirabella and had a problem with one of her eyes. The lid drooped to the point of covering her eye. But that didn’t keep Sarah from being a wonderful person. Mirabella loved her and always treated her like a sister.
    Sarah made her debut two years before Mirabella, but after five London Seasons not one young man had shown an interest in making a match with her. Sarah was doomed to spinsterhood. They both knew it was because of her eye and the fact that she had only a meager dowry.
    A month before the Season started, Sarah took a dose of laudanum and went to sleep. She never woke up. Mirabella was horrified and saddened. The physician agreed that Sarah died from a weak heart, so there would be no hint of scandal on the family.
    A few days later, Mirabella discovered the truth. While putting away Sarah’s things, Mirabella found a diary and discovered that Sarah had been meeting a gentleman late at night whom she called Prince Charming. They became lovers and soon Sarah discovered she was pregnant. When the man refused to marry her, Sarah became despondent and took her life.
    The pages in the diary held few clues to the despicable man’s identity. Mirabella knew only that he was a well-known, eligible gentleman, shorter than the average man—and he had a wide, raised scar on the right side of his neck just above his collarbone. Sarah had also written that she had danced with him more than once last Season. That information had allowed Mirabella to make a list of possible suspects from Sarah’s dance cards.
    Mirabella couldn’t bear the thought of such an unscrupulous man passing himself off as a gentleman and living the rest of his life without consequences. Keeping this knowledge to herself for fear he’d leave Town should he know anyone was looking for him, she devised a way to find him and discreetly expose him to Society as an unconscionable man. A few chosen words passed around Town would see to it that he would be shunned by every respectable household. Pushy mamas of the ton wouldn’t allow their innocent daughters near a man who might violate them.
    If Sarah hadn’t been so desperate for a man’s love, Prince Charming would never have succeeded in seducing her. Mirabella never wanted to be in that position. If her fiancé never returned to claim her, so be it. Love couldn’t be that important. She was content to live as a spinster in her father’s house.
    Bertram touched Mirabella’s cheek with a cupped hand. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. It’s too upsetting for you. We have something else to discuss. I’ve heard nothing from Lord Lockshaven since sending him an ultimatum more than two months ago. I want you to know I’m committed to breaking the engagement if his son hasn’t returned by the end of the Season.”
    Mirabella turned her thoughts from Sarah. “I think our engagement was over before it started, Papa. I never told you, but that day years ago when the earl and his son were here, I was eavesdropping outside the library.”
    He smiled. “I suspected as much. You were always a bright child, always wanting to know everything that was going on. I never had the heart to reprimand you.”
    “I heard him say he’d be an old man with gray hair before he returned to claim his bride. I know he meant it, Papa. I never saw his face, but I heard conviction in his voice.”
    He nodded. “I’ve come to the same conclusion. That is why we won’t wait any longer. I can’t wait any longer.”
    Mirabella’s chest tightened with alarm. She knew her father believed his time to be short, but she wouldn’t allow herself to agree with him. “Papa, I’m happy here with you. I’m content to be alone. You know I don’t want to marry and leave you.”
    “Poppycock. It’s what daughters do.”
    “Not all young ladies marry.”
    “All daughters as beautiful as you do. Now, I want to hear no more foolish talk about remaining