Dianne Freeman

Why does it always happen that just when I begin to feel life simply couldn’t get any better, fate drops a disaster into my path to prove me right?

The first twinges of apprehension tickled the back of my neck like icy fingers.

I gave her a slow-burning glare, intended to make her cringe, or at least take her criticism elsewhere. It didn’t work. Hetty was immune to glares, mine or anyone else’s. As my father’s sister, she shared his pragmatic nature, dark hair and eyes, and the uncanny ability to make money from anything.

“We are three intelligent women. What would we do if we had every possible option to hand?”

Your wedding is only eight weeks away. Couldn’t you have waited?”
Lily, with the face of an innocent babe, raised her handkerchief to her watery eyes. “That’s exactly the point, Franny. We saw no reason to wait.”

Have I mentioned the marriage was a disaster? Is it any wonder I wanted Lily and Leo to have a long engagement period? To take some time and come to know one another?

Dearest George. Still in his arms, I reached up to brush back a dark lock of hair. I loved that I had to tip my head back to look into his eyes, but was close enough to see the dark rim surrounding the paler green iris, so full of mystery. It could take years to unravel the mystery of this man, and I would treasure every one.

His voice dropped to a low growl, sending shivers across my shoulders.

He rested a finger against my lips. “Don’t even ask. You know I can’t tell you.”
“I’m marrying a very mysterious man,”

I understood. Armed with a plan, they wanted nothing to interfere with it. Even a well-intentioned mother.