“You promised, Alistair,” Mama always said, her sobs making Veronica’s heart ache.

Justin had listened, too. But he’d had more of a resigned, stoic demeanor. He didn’t get angry the way Veronica had. They’d both been forced to listen to their parents’ raised voices until their governess had stood and closed the door to the nursery.

Nothing ever changed. Father made a lot of promises and went back to London, leaving Mama with a broken heart. Then he’d return, and another fight would ensue. And every time they raised their voices, Veronica promised herself that she’d never allow a man to treat her that way. She’d never welcome a man who’d betrayed her into her bed. She’d never understood how Mama could bear it, especially when Mama had been raised by Grandpapa and Grandmama, who were clearly a lifelong love match.

Veronica closed her eyes. The memory of the night of her first ball after her debut drifted through her mind. Grandpapa had been there, dressed in his best evening clothes. Looking as dapper and handsome as any of the young bucks. He’d proudly escorted his eldest granddaughter into the Cranberrys’ ballroom. “Remember,” he said with such earnestness in his eyes, “when evaluating a young man, you must ensure he is solid. The type of man who won’t let his family down. The type of man who is faithful and cherishes his wife the way I cherish your grandmother.”

“A man unlike Father,” Veronica had whispered.

Regret had filled her grandfather’s eyes. “I begged Margaret not to marry him,” he breathed.

Tears had filled Veronica’s eyes that night as well. She’d patted her grandfather’s hand. “Don’t worry, Grandpapa. If I can find a man even half as good as you, I shall count myself fortunate indeed.”

“Only the best will do for you, my darling V,” Grandpapa had said before the Cranberrys’ butler had announced them and he’d escorted her into the dazzling ballroom.

Fear had taken hold of Veronica that night and it had remained her constant companion for the next four Seasons. She danced with a thousand young gentlemen. She’d taken their calls. Accepted their flowers. She’d gone riding in the park with them. She’d allowed them to escort her to Gunter’s for a sweet. She’d tried and tried to find the perfect man, one she could love and trust. But her fear of making the wrong choice, of choosing a man like her father, had left her paralyzed with doubt.

That, and the fact that her heart had been captured long ago…by Sebastian Sinclair.

Sebastian had been busy taking over the responsibilities of the dukedom after his father’s untimely death. For years, Sebastian hadn’t been to any of the balls and soirees and picnics and other parties the rest of the ton enjoyed during the Season. It wasn’t until Veronica’s fifth Season when she was quickly approaching ‘on the shelf’ by anyone’s standards, that Sebastian had returned to Society. And the moment he asked her to dance at the Dunwoodys’ ball…her heart was lost.