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Burkes’ name. A stain that could not be erased as she so often told Harriet.
    Harriet could only imagine her aunt’s reaction, not for the tragedy that encompassed the affair, but for the loss of status in the eyes of the ton . Her aunt’s hopes dashed so quickly…she had been married less than a year when the events played out.
    To overcome so many obstacles in her life and finally marry gentry, the former Miss Constance Palfrey had to have been disheartened. Not that Harriet considered her uncle a catch, but she supposed that in the eyes of the world around her, Walter Burke would be deemed a favorable match.
    At the time, her uncle was a young widower with three young children, having lost his first wife after the birth of Bessie. The future squire of Beebe Manor needed a wife worthy of his position. The former Constance Palfrey came from a respectable family, a descendant of the infamous Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England on her mother’s side.
    Miss Constance Palfrey’s life had not been carefree. At an early age, her father, Captain Silas Palfrey, deserted his family for his mistress and moved to Nova Scotia to begin a whaling station.
    Left to fend for her family, Constance’s mother used her connections to set up a prominent girls’ school. When she had come of age, Constance became headmistress. Long considered on the shelf, Constance was introduced to Harriet’s uncle while he was on holiday in Bath. He wed her shortly afterwards and brought his bride back to Beebe Manor.
    Not prone to emotions, her aunt was a rather tall woman. Painfully thin with no figure to speak of, she had an elongated face with deep receding dark eyes that would never allow her aunt to be considered a beauty. Harsh and prim in her manner, her large hands had more than once backhanded Harriet when Harriet spoke her mind. The sting taught Harriet not to counter her aunt’s remarks, but did little to contain Harriet’s spirit.
    Despite her aunt’s enmity towards her, Harriet was greatly indulged by her grandparents. Harriet gave no thought of being ignored by her aunt and uncle until her grandfather’s death. Then everything changed.
    The estate suffered under her uncle’s guidance. Whereas her grandfather connected to the land and the people, her uncle seemed incompetent in the affairs of running an estate. It did not take long for Beebe Manor to fall into a state of disrepair. Beebe Manor’s crumbling walls did little to discourage the financial demands placed upon the estate.
    Her aunt’s finery had not suffered , nor had her cousins’, Clarissa and Bessie. Her aunt seemed obsessed with her daughters making a great match, one deemed worthy of their station in life . Harriet hadn’t been included in this obsession.
    Harriet could not remember the last time she herself had a new gown before her engagement. After her grandfather’s death, she had taken the gowns no longer worn by her cousin, Bessie, who, despite being only a year older than Harriet, was of the same stature, and the gowns needed little alterations.
    The disdain of her aunt towards Harriet had not carried over to her cousins. Moreover, Harriet enjoyed their company. Poor Clarissa could no more please her mother than Harriet herself. The poor thing had suffered through three Seasons without a hint of an offer. Then to the dismay of her aunt, Bessie’s debut this last Season produced no acceptable results. Not that either cousin was distasteful to look upon, but neither were great beauties and without a fortune, it left little chance of an acceptable match in the eyes of Aunt Constance.
    A Season for Harriet had never been mentioned, nor had Harriet expected to have been included…not after her grandfather’s death. She dreamed of love, but dared not hope…until Arthur.
    Her aunt did little to conceal her animosity towards Harriet. Harriet had never been a poor relation, but not being a pauper did little to raise her ranking in her aunt’s eyes. Her aunt