There was no engagement ring, but she did meet a distinguished Baronet eighteen years her senior, who became her constant companion and in private pursued her as relentlessly as any hound pursues a fox.
Magnolia played him as skilfully as a fisherman would play what appeared to be a hooked fish, but at the last moment, when she had actually started to plan her trousseau, he got away.
She could hardly believe it was true when he told her that he had made some extremely unfortunate investments and found it would be impossible for him to keep up his house and estates unless, to put it bluntly, he ‘married money’.
Magnolia decided to put a good face on what was a disastrous setback and a humiliation she was determined not to acknowledge.
The moment she realised she had lost her Baronet, sh
