The only daughter (and youngest child) of Lord and Lady Whittaker, twenty year old Gloriana reveled in her third season amongst high society London. With a marriage proposal all but verbally uttered, and very much anticipated by the ton, she had never been happier. But, sometimes, things are just too good to be true, and a vicious kick back to reality was in the cards for Miss Gloriana. Heart broken and bitter, she returns to her mother's side at their country estate, where her life takes a few rather unexpected turns. ~A regency era romance~ •Jane Austen/Charlotte Bronte inspired story• Edge= to excite, stimulate, or provoke If you're like me, you loved 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility', and 'Jane Eyre'. It's so easy to get lost in time while reading about life in the age where men were (mostly) gentleman, where lavish balls were frequent, and when there was a season in London where the gentry and well mannered people got together to gossip and form relationships. Also, if you're like me, all of those super inaccurate, pseudo regency period romance stories probably make you want to weep all over your Mr.Darcy body pillow. And that's not to say I don't read them, I still do, cause I'll take what I can get. I'm also not insinuating there aren't great, truly well written regency period stories on here either. I feel grateful to have found a few so far, and I really appreciate the authors who wrote them. But I couldn't help but try my hand at writing something I'd really enjoy reading. Something a bit more accurate than most. Still a little overdone, still has everything you want in a good regency era love story, but it shouldn't turn you into a Bertha Mason out of frustration. Any comments are appreciated! ♡JordynBH

Lady Eleanor Cantwell, daughter of the Marquess of Salford, is a proper young lady. With her golden complexion, raven-black hair, and manners befitting a princess, Lady Eleanor has always been deemed a belle. There is just one problem. Lady Eleanor Cantwell is Indian. Having been adopted from India when Lady Salford found herself unable to bear a child, Lady Eleanor is shunned by society, including her mother, on account of her true heritage. The ladies turn their noses at her and the gentlemen only wish for her virtue which she clings to dearly. They certainly have no wish to wed an Indian girl, no matter how pretty she is! Which is why the entire ton is incredulous when a young man - a duke, no less! - offers his hand in marriage to the young daughter of the Marquess of Salford. Lady Eleanor finds it quite hard to believe that any gentleman would wish to marry her and instead of feeling grateful, all she feels is remorse and anger. A husband would only bring with him a mountain of restrictions that were detrimental to her plans of travelling the world - the land of her ancestors, in particular. So, when her parents sell her off to the duke, she realises that she no longer cares for society, her beloved father, or her reputation. And when the duke makes her an enticing offer, she realises she would have to abandon all sense of propriety, manners, and rules to do what he asks of her. She would have to defy. . * 1st Place Winner in HISTORICAL FICTION of the HIDDEN GEMS AWARDS * Featured in the "Diverse Fiction" reading list by @Ambassadors * Featured in the "Historical Fiction" reading list by @AmbassadorsIN * Featured in the "Ambassador's Monthly Picks (Oct 2025)", "War & Military" and "Historical DiverseLit" reading lists by @HistoricalFiction * Featured in the "Historical Adventures" and "DiverseLit Adventures" reading lists by @adventure