Three Sisters Torn - Brigette - Book 2: Three Sisters Torn, #2

By Aurora Hills

Brigette Hartson has suffered through years of finishing school in anticipation for making her debut to society. She's studied very hard, danced her toes off, and smiled until she is unable to smile any longer for this one moment in her life. All she has to do is be her charming self and she will be wed in no time to a duke or viscount, making her family proud. After all, it is what she's waited for her entire life.

Frederick Arrington has enjoyed the simple life in London, painting his way through idle days. But when a chance encounter causes his path to cross Brigette's, he knows his life will never be the same. While she's determined on making a successful match, he's focused on showing her what all she is missing in life. However, Brigette's parents have something completely different in mind for her introducing her to the Duke of Maston. An unexpected twist of events will give Brigette a surprise she did not see coming and she must figure her way through the horrible dilemma. What will Brigette choose?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aurora Hills
• Release date: Mar 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393208686

Book preview

Three Sisters Torn

~ Brigette ~

Book 2

By

Aurora Hills

Aurora Hills - Georgia – 2019

USA

Copyright © 2019 by Aurora Hills

Published by Aurora Hills Books All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

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Printed in the United States of America

This is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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CHAPTER ONE

Brigette Hartson pressed her nose against the cold pane of glass, not even caring that she was being bounced all over the coach now. For hours she had endured horrible deep ruts in the road, so much so that she was sure her skin would be flowering with bruises by the end of the day.

But none of that mattered now.

The coach slowed as it turned into the drive, the large manor house coming into view, its’ imposing brick facade like a welcoming beacon to Brigette. After four long years, she was finally home. It seemed like just yesterday she remembered being dumped on the doorstep of Miss Brighton’s School for Gently Bred Ladies, scared and wholly unprepared for what was in store for her. Her sisters had both gone through the same training in preparation for their debuts to London society, and now they were both married to titled gentlemen. The same of Brigette was expected, and she could not wait to prove it to her family that she too could marry well.

The coach lurched to a stop, causing Brigette to almost spill onto the floor, bracing herself at the last moment. In two days, she would embark on the London scene, just as Margaret and Penelope had, and take the social whirl by storm. Already she had planned her wardrobe, selected her partners from Debrett’s Guide to Peerage, and mastered the art of curtsying to the queen. Brigette was ready. All she had to do was get there.

The coach door opened and Brigette allowed the driver to help her out, straightening her traveling skirts and drawing in a deep breath. She must act like a lady at all times. She must never address the staff by their first name, no matter how long she had known them. She must always pick up her skirts when walking up the stairs, lest they drag through the mud. All of Miss Brighton’s coaching ran through her mind as Brigette walked through the front door of her childhood home, her eyes misting with tears as she saw her parents standing in the foyer.

Brigette, my dear girl, her mother exclaimed, taking her daughter’s hands before pulling her into a hug. I’ve missed you so! Look at you, all grown up.

Mama, Brigette said, breathing in her mother’s expensive French perfume. I’m so glad to be home.

She looks more like a lady than our daughter.

Brigette looked up and smiled at her father, the familiar wave of loneliness that had carried with her throughout her time at the finishing school now nothing more than a distant memory. I’m still the same Brigette, father.

Her mother drew back, looking at her daughter with shrewd eyes. I certainly hope not! Why I am looking at the newest diamond of the first water for this year’s season. You might even beat Margaret’s marriage proposals, my dear.

Brigette thought of her oldest sister and shook her head. Margaret had been a pariah during her London seasons, snagging the elusive Duke of Morose, regarded as the prime catch of that season. The dark horse had been her middle sister, Penelope, also snagging her own duke. The Duke of Embry had quite the reputation before falling in love with Penelope, and now the society pages talked about how the duke was besotted by his wife only. Both her sisters had succeeded, and now it was her turn, though she desperately wanted to have a leg up on her sisters with her own choice.

I shall endeavor to do my best Mama.

Her mother smiled and patted her cheek lightly. Oh, you will do far more than that Brigette, far more. Now, I know you must be weary from your journey. Your room is prepared, and I have a pot of tea waiting in there as well. We shall see you at supper.

Brigette nodded to them both, starting to feel her body ache from the rough journey as she climbed the stairs to her old room on the second landing. Sure enough, there was a pot of tea next to the roaring fire, her maid standing beside the bed as she entered the room.

Oh, Miss Brigette! Julia exclaimed. You look like a fine lady, indeed.

Thank you, Julia, Brigette said, breaking one of many rules she most likely would forget over the next months. It’s good to be home.

I have a bath already drawn for you, Julia said as Brigette stripped off her gloves and removed the hat from her head. I heard the roads are a dreadful mess from all the rain.

I couldn’t agree more, Brigette sighed. A bath sounds lovely, thank you.

She allowed the maid to help her remove the dusty traveling dress before easing into the warm water with a heartfelt sigh. Leaning her head back against the rim of the tub, Brigette closed her tired eyes. She was so glad to be home, back where she felt the most comfortable, though it seemed very odd to be the only daughter in the manor. She had never been extremely close to her sisters and would have dearly loved to talk with them now to see what awaited her in London. Four years of finishing school still could not truly prepare one for what they were about to experience. It would only prepare them on how to respond. Brigette knew all the right things to say and do, but the sights, well, she could not wait to see the city.

With a sigh, Brigette allowed the warm water to seep into her achy bones. In the days leading to her departure, the other girls had also been excited to put their talents to the test finally. Brigette knew a few of the debutantes this season, and though they had been friends at school, they would not be once the season started. It was like a game of chess, to find out who could outdo each other first to vie for the highest bachelor with a good title on the market. There were not many this season.

I will be successful, she muttered to herself, sliding further into the water. Indeed, she had no choice. No young debutante wanted to be a spinster, and the more time she spent attempting to woo a titled gentleman, the possibility of her having to repeat her season became greater. The next season she would be up against another crop of debutantes. No, it was smarter to go and at least get engaged in one’s first season, or risk suffering embarrassment in subsequent ones. There were horror stories shared amongst the students of girls who were unsuccessful in their debut season, only to never recover afterward, or worse, to be stuck with a man old enough to be her father.

That was not going to be Brigette. She would make an excellent match within a matter of weeks, and though she would not know her intended that well, she would grow to love him just as her sisters had. After all, love and affection came second in choosing a mate.

Brigette sat up in the tub and reached for the sliver of lavender soap that Julia had placed there. She would not let down her parents. She would not embarrass them by making a fool out of herself the first gala she attended. All her preparation, all her planning was about to come to