The late Duke of Ravenstock and his wife had been confident that their only daughter Marguerite would make a brilliant social marriage.
The ball they had given at Ravenstock House had been attended not only by every eligible young aristocrat in the whole of Debrett’s, but also by a large number of younger sons of reigning Monarchs and foreign Princes.
It was not quite what they expected, but at the same time it was considered acceptable when Lady Marguerite had fallen in love with the elder son of Lord Lansdown.
He was somewhat older than she was and had made a name for himself in the Army and was a serious, rather unsociable character. His name had never been connected with any woman and he was in fact known to be dedicated to his Regiment.
The moment he saw Lady Marguerite he had kno
