An Unsuitable Suitor

When an unsuitable gentleman appears to court a baron's daughter, it's an older sister's duty to stand in his way. And, of course, not fall in love with him herself.

Matilda "Mattie" Rayment is a woman embroiled in a delicate mission: to ensure her vivacious younger sister, Beatrice, makes a prosperous match before the curtain falls on this Season. Their family's waning reputation and looming financial ruin add urgency to her quest. When Oliver Bolton, a newly minted gentleman and nephew to their family's steward, shows an interest in Beatrice, Mattie's plans teeter on the brink of unraveling.

Oliver Bolton has harbored a distant infatuation for Miss Beatrice Rayment, but has always kept his feelings at bay, hemmed in by the limits of his social standing. Now the owner of a modest estate, Oliver finds himself in possession of a newly minted ticket to society's intricate dance. At last, he can pursue the woman of his dreams—except, it seems, his dreams may be outdated.

As Mattie attempts to divert Oliver from what she deems would be an imprudent union with her sister, she finds her own heart increasingly ensnared by the charming steward's nephew. Similarly, Oliver discovers that the woman who most captures his imagination is not Beatrice, but Mattie herself. As the Season draws to a close, Mattie and Oliver must confront an essential question: can they set aside societal norms and their own well-laid plans to listen to the quiet stirrings of their hearts?

In this closed-door Regency romance, the anticipated dance of courtship takes unforeseen steps, forcing Mattie and Oliver to decide if their future happiness is worth the risk of an unconventional match.

Originally published as part of An Evening at Almack's, a Regency Collection, this edition has been edited and expanded.