The Only Reason for the London Season

By Kristin Vayden

Sometimes love needs a little push in the right direction.
Or a good and proper shove.
At least that’s what Dianna Trowl believes, profusely, or else she’d never have done what she did.
It would have been foolish, it would have been a scandal, if...it hadn’t of worked.
But it did, and sometimes the price to pay for a gentleman’s attention is worth every penny.
And convincing Lord Southridge to believe in love at first sight? Priceless.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristin Vayden
• Release date: Feb 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991127375

Kristin Vayden

Kristin Vayden is an experienced author who has written twenty books and anthologies. An acquisitions editor for a boutique publishing house, her books have been featured on Hallmark Channel's Home and Family. For more information, visit her at kristinvayden.weebly.com or on Twitter at @KristinVayden.

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The Only Reason for the London Season

by Kristin Vayden

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 KRISTIN VAYDEN

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

THE ONLY REASON FOR THE LONDON SEASON

Copyright © 2014 KRISTIN VAYDEN

ISBN: 978-0-9911273-7-5

ISBN 10: 0991127374

Cover Art by P.S. Cover Design

Prologue

Miss Dianna Trowl hated her name.

Hated it.

Because it reminded her of a troll, and that same similarity wasn't missed by any of the other debutantes this season. Five minutes couldn't pass before some snide comment was made — just loudly enough for her to hear — that her last name was wildly appropriate for someone who looked like her.

And for that same reason, she hated her hair — almost as much as she hated her name.

Red.

Why in heaven had she been the one to inherit her Scottish ancestors' flaming color? No one, no one else in her family even had a hint of the reddish hue. But of course, why would they when she'd clearly got all of it? It wasn't fair. As if her wretched hair color wasn't enough, she had freckles and green eyes. So, she was the antithesis of everything that was all the rage this season. No wheat colored tresses with bottomless blue eyes. No, she had a flame-colored and unruly mane with muddy green eyes. It might not have been so miserable if the color of the season wasn't pink.

The absolute worst color for someone of, well, her color.

But what Dianna lacked in appealing coloring, she made up for in spirit. And so the season continued, and as each ball ended without so much as one suitor paying her mind, she resolved to take matters into her own hands. Everyone noticed her, just for the wrong reasons. But… what if she could use that to her advantage? So Dianna thought and planned and rather decided that this season would be her trial run. She'd listen, she'd learn, and next season… she'd conquer.

And that is precisely what she did.

Chapter One

Mother? Did you forget about our appointment at the modiste? Dianna asked in her most innocent voice. She knew her mother couldn't have forgotten, especially since she had never known about the appointment in the first place. Of course one had to occasionally take matters into her own hands if she wanted to have a dress any color other than the most fashionable peach hue — which wasn't any better than last season's pink. So Dianna had justified her actions, made an appointment, and then purposefully forgot to tell her mother. She also might have planned that very appointment during her mother's weekly card game at the Wintons', but she'd never admit to it.

Ever.

Dianna, are you sure we have an appointment? Whitney would have surely told me…

Which was why Dianna hadn't told the Butler either.

I'm quite certain. It's of no matter, I'll take along Meg and we'll be on our way. Dianna spun on her heel and left, closing her mother's door behind her. After a few steps she exhaled a silent breath of relief. The first part of her plan was set in motion. With her mother not hovering over her shoulder and selecting every wrong color for her skin tone, she would be free to be a bit more daring. Her heart fluttered at the prospect, but she reminded herself that it was all necessary if she were to snag a husband this season. She couldn't blend in, not that she ever did in the first place, but it rather sounded like the right sentiment to think. So with determination she made her way to her room to notify her maid, Meg, and then set out for town.

****

Cambridge Whitacker, the Earl of Southridge, was bored. If he had to marry this season — which he did, once he made up his mind, he stuck to it — why couldn't there be at least one interesting young woman? Instead, it was as if a single peach had fallen from the heavens and sat rotting in the various homes of the London elite.

Peach, who in the bloody hell thought that such a color would be enticing to men? It was… in a word… ugly. And he thought it made even the prettiest girl rather… well, ugly. Never one for describing matters, he figured one blunt word was just as good as another.

So he walked about the ballroom, sipping his warming champagne and trying to look somewhat entertained so as not to offend the host. It was only the second or third — he already lost count — ball of the season, and not everyone was even in town yet,

Reviews for The Only Reason for the London Season

[SusanneLundPedersen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet short story and a prequel to "What the duke wants".