When Helene Lovell finds herself a penniless orphan, she is swept into the world of manners, money, and etiquette, where her cruel Aunt Lady Dorothea is the ringmaster, and never ceases to remind her of her burdensome existence. The only consolation is Henry, who shows Helene friendship and kindness in a place of sadness. Fast-forward a few years, where grown-up Henry and Helene meet again, but Helene must battle her ever growing feelings for him. As she stays as a guest at Henry's families residence, she is unwittingly submerged into the middle of family drama, tragedy, and love. Will Helene be able to overcome her social position, shyness and rank and follow her heart, or simply conform to what is expected of her?
~Dedicated to my grandma, who recently passed away but was the best story teller I knew~
UPDATE: I wrote this book a few years ago on a whim, and also to help distract me from the grief of losing my grandma. As such, it is very unedited! I am leaving it up because it was my first book on Wattpad, and came straight from my heart. I don't really plan on editing it so I am sorry if you notice any errors/holes/mistakes, but hope you can enjoy it in its very rough and unpolished form nonetheless :-)
{Shortlisted for the Wattys 2022} It's 1798 and The Lenoir family controls a significant part of London's dreaded and violent underworld. They reap the rewards in high-class society but Clarissa Lenoir has little interest in society or the people within it. Instead, she is following in her grandfather's footsteps as the leader and protector of The Strand, however, a problem, in the form of a silver-eyed man and rival leader, is about to throw her world into chaos. Clarissa is determined to best this entitled and immoral duke in any way she can and refuses to fall prey to his dashing looks and lavish words. Will she risk everything, including her own life to see this man crumble at her feet? Or is there something stronger than revenge in her heart?