The Charmer

Friendl

o return t

ught to d

ne he used whenever he was in Wickhurst

ody l

d he come up with a list

rn to Standbury.

ster and her friend were determi

like a growl escaped his thr

e in the first place. As a member of the League of Founders, it was paramount that she have her own space to write secret missives to secret individuals. T

decided to respect Margaret's decision. They also made it their mission to make

but they had also been rumored to be connected to many conspiracies all over the Town. But Levi and

o do it instead?" he demanded,

wly relaxing her serious mien as a smile crept up

cide to go back to Wickhur

st," Margaret pointed out. "I know yo

l has passed, I can go b

. Because you

d Max ca

ical air and Nick will merely be spending most of

vants to gentries. Should I remind you of their recent p

ns are too bloody romantic. Tori does

separated? Had I been too far go

ot have romance, and you know very much

hurst for too long. For God's sake, Margaret, I have been rumor

off three Christmas dinners ago. "But you still have your charm. You do still have your friends a

he people I once associated with are no

rom now. You ought to come with us," his sister said, d

hy

nce with Tor

in his own breath

you forgott

I dance w

th Victoria Ashdown. Women would gossip about it, the men would hear it and they would all turn their heads and look for

rsed hi

uty to help her. If her stepmother succeeds in making a match with Tori and that horr

on

haps not. He had been alone because he chose it, and all along he had a family

to me, Margaret,"

Now, off you go. If mother looks

sister dryly. "

the letter in her hands. "Oh, b

vi muttered, tu

ther!" she cal

ly closed

*

r, could be compared to attending church service with

ont of many people, and say anoth

moment Tori sat down

very important ball after the meal. But then, Clarice had always been that way; always looking regal and beautiful when everyone knew the Ashdown money was long gone, with naught but

But in all fairness, Clarice had aged rather too slow tha

r Tori's mother died, August Ashdown took to drinking and gambling.Tori had often wondered why he remarried at all, but now tha

her as anyone but a competition either-competition to her husband's attention, beauty (although it was apparent Clarice was far more beautiful than most women)

go, stepmother, that the Everards are y

e a lot of people in the ton who are wary of them. After t

y, you literally threw me at the Everards' too many times when I was y

ow. By God, you are nearly a spinster! You ought to think more for yourself than hang around the Evera

so frequently told her not to accept, having seen so many flaws on the gentlemen, until the day came that all of them ceased to come. At some point she had truly believed Clarice

for her inheritance were set aside to assure Tori's chance in the marriage mart. He might as well have

as. He has been meaning to talk to you but

also obnoxious, despicable at best. Everyone knew he was nearly at the last of his

but years of living under the same roof as the woman had opened Tori to the many facets of Clarice Ashdown. She could be the most conniving devil the town of Wickhurs

ry you." Before Tori could feign surprise, Clarice added, "And you will be a foo

get the moment I say 'I do'? And my inheritance,

but stitch and make calls for tea with your friends. A man like Lucas is more capab

y money the moment I turn thirty should I

d you will waste it all by the end of the

it will be with som

d, Victoria, have you gone blind? I do not

e had remained calm thus

No one will hav

ind one?" s

ved her lips. "If you can, then I will gl

tha

t and you are still without a

could she get one within a fortnight? But it was better t

rtni

d Levi bett

Tori said, "You hav

*

to help Tori find a husband?" Ysabella asked Le

ou will do it within a

sabella was older by a few months; hence people had always th

doors again," he said. "This is not a m

" Emma asked. "You ought to be married by now and she ought to have married many ye

me marrying Tori is almost close to disgusting. It is close to both of you suggesting I mar

showing her dance card.

with a frown. "You are not dancing

? He see

his name. Feign an ankle injury th

" Ysabella insisted, stomping he

turned to Emma. "Let me look at your list." He p

Emma said w

than Ben," Ys

other two on the list sa

ou are no fun, Levi. You hav

smile. "Peo

change your mind on Tori

id. "Do not make me one of your victims,

ned to face the crowd in t

g was abou

*

usband," Levi later said to Tori, "but d

, Levi," she said through he

leman. Looking for Emma, he found her a few yards away with their

i for a dance," Margare

e asked

's head off." Without another word, Margaret sashayed to

I know how to dance,"

sing Ysabella and her partner. "One dance for each gentleman, Ysa, nothin

ere forced to do this," Tori whispered to

smile. It makes one think you are dancing with someone with sw

otice him and Tori. He could see a few women turning their h

concerned on the men. And surely, there were quite a

her warm breath brushing against his

music started. "Are we not dancing to a waltz?" he asked when he realized th

, you oaf," Tori uttered. "I

usic began. "Where are you going?" he asked when Tori left his side

id as she returned to his side. She pushed him toward t

your previous suitors many years ago," he hastily

hem?" she asked and he se

of looking down at t

you know abou

rs," he nearly snapped in answer, twirling her around. When she frowned, obviously confused, he explained, "The twins sent weekly l

Ah, so you must have also heard t

d of another young lady who was nearly gaping at him. It to

now," she said, her eyes not mee

her eyes, he was studying the rest of her face and he wondered why he nev

e steps interru

well, but I do h

stepmo

Clar

have done to scare

my father's debts.

the time, Tori, and most often

for many years. She would

led gossips f

she snapped, "Then you are saying t

round of changing partners and Levi found himsel

u refuse to believe my stepmother to be the cause of my absent suitors, surely it

d to exchange partners again and Levi used the opportunity to formulate a good response. When Tori was finally returned to him, her gloved hand con

at amount of debt," she whispered before she had t

as your stepmother's doing," he continu

twirled around and was taken by another dancer. Levi al

hout even thinking whether

ath . "I no longer w

this dratted dance is driving me insane. Also

pped her, saying, "Do not stare, you fool. Pretend as t

ther ladies. He dance

rating, Levi thought before

re is one. If possible, I want it to be

Tori. Simply pretend you are having a great night dancing with a good, char

der why you even disappeared for so long. You could have saved me many years ago by breaking many m

again, dear?" a

music is nice, is i

Mabil shouted as her partn

her lips to

orner of the room, he saw a familiar figure stari

tarna

illiam W