The future marquess, lord Bradford is too wise to fall for any of his mother's marital schemes. With his icy English reserve and domineering personality he has managed to keep marriage minded Misses and their cunning mamas at bay. But with his father being ill with consumption, his mother is determined to see him settled and fills their manor with dozens of marriageable ladies. He easily dodges all the traps laid out by young Misses but then a mishap in the stables leaves him honor bound to marry a certain Miss Hughes. His bride-to-be is not too enamoured with him, as he had expected. She would rather be a spinster than be his wife. Hurt by her refusal, he is determined to show her what a great husband he could have been and means to make stubborn Vicar daughter repent. Katherine Hughes is an orphaned daughter of a Vicar After her parents' untimely death, her maternal uncle has taken to her care. Her aunt and her cousins however, deem her beneath them and often treat her with unkindness. When they are all invited to stay at Wimbledon manor, home of the noble Bradford family, she is strictly instructed by her aunt to make herself scarce as her cousins try to charm lord Bradford into proposing marriage. But fate keeps putting him in her way. When a mishap in the stables leads to a scandal, she is forced to be betrothed to lord Bradford. She fiercely refuses to accept such a fate for she knows deep down that a man of rank like him cannot truly love a girl like her. But lord Bradford wouldn't accept her refusal and makes her a counter offer which she accepts with reluctance. They will stay engaged till the end of summer and quietly break-off the engagement afterwards to avoid scandal. But will they break off the engagement or will they fall in love? Only time will tell

**DRAFT MOSTLY** FOR FANS OF BRIDGERTON Rose Axel is deformed from the burns she endured from her father. Her face is forever hidden under a veil. Her waist is much too wide, hips too ample. Too many prefer calling her fat. Or to her family, a cow. When hastily married after her father's death, to honor the agreement made in his will, she expects nothing of it. And she is right to think so. Matthew Whitfield is not happy upon receiving Rose as a bride. He cannot even look upon her, as she refuses to take off her veil, and has no features he considers attractive. The handsome charming Mr. Whitfield cannot be bothered by the likes of his wife. She is the fulfillment of a contract and nothing more. So he takes a mistress, and falls in love. Victoria Sill is everything Rose is not. Beautiful, gliding, and glowing. She's interested in one thing only, and that is to hold the title of Matthew's wife, Mrs. Whitfield. She doesn't care who she has to crush to get her way, be it Rose herself. Victoria always get what she wants. Be it one way or other. Soon Rose falls upon a secret that turns the tables. In addition, Victoria finds a way to become closer to the Whitfield name. A child. As the circumstances shift, and the Whitfield mansion is thrown into uproar, will this situation bring Matthew and Rose together? Or will Victoria succeed in keeping them apart? ---- #35 in victorian 5/13/22 #1 in oldtimes 5/23/22 #2 in regency 5/28/22 #1 in bridgerton 6/15/22 [[word count: 80,000-100,000 words]]