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Portia could not disagree with Hilarie’s statement. Titus was handsome, but more than that, he used to be her friend, her confidant, the person who’d consoled her when her world had come crashing down.

“I’m so scared,” she’d confessed through heavy sobs. The news that her father was dying had ruptured her world.

Titus brought her within the folds of his embrace and just held her.

“It will be alright. You have your half-siblings, and my father, and you will always have me.” Something shifted between them.

Something her fifteen-year-old self could not comprehend but knew was special.

With Titus’s words, suddenly, the world didn’t seem so bleak.

If only it had lasted.

Portia still did not understand why her dearest friend had abandoned her.

Not for the first time, she wondered if she had done something to upset him?

In those early days spent in the loneliness of her room at the Oaks residence, worry over what she’d possibly could’ve done had consumed her waking moments and filtered into her nightmares.

Nightmares that only intensified with the years.

“From what I overheard, he’s been known as quite the rake about Town,” Judith paused for a moment, then added, “But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are plenty of reasons a man is a rake.”

Of course, he was a rake , Portia’s thought was heavy with sarcasm. What woman could resist those good looks worthy of Adonis and Corinthian physique?

“He is only attending this Season because of his cousin. And…” Judith took in a long breath, adding drama to the gossip she was no doubt about to reveal. “I have it on good authority from Lady Baldwin that he is not interested in marriage?—”

“Whyever not?” Hilarie said in a huff, as if the statement was directed at her personally, dashing her hopes for a match.

“Lady Baldwin overheard Lady Whitaker, Lady Harding, and Mrs. Whitbourne while at the opera several nights ago, discussing how Lord Ravensworth suffered a broken heart. Which I highly doubt. Rakes are not in possession of a heart. Regardless, he is titled and wealthy, and requires an heir to secure the future of the earldom.”

“Perhaps I can change his mind about not wanting to marry,” Hilarie said with a slyness that had the hairs on Portia’s arm stand on end. Regardless of what happened between her and Titus, she didn’t wish him to fall victim to her relatives’ schemes.

“I think you’re right, my love,” Judith said with an equal slyness. “We need to formulate a plan on how we should proceed.”

Gossip, schemes, and manipulation. This wasn’t Portia’s world.

A deep sigh rankled through her body. Her world no longer existed. She wasn’t welcome in any of her half-siblings’ homes and was expected to marry this Season—love match or not.

Love .

Her thoughts shifted to Judith’s comment about Titus suffering from a broken heart.

She could not help but wonder what sort of woman Titus had fallen in love with?

She must have been quite beautiful and very accomplished.

The future countess would have to be well-trained and comfortable amongst the ton .

She would be expected to host events, entertain the upper echelons of Society, and provide heirs.

And in return, he would love her, care for her, spend quiet moments in the library discussing far-off places.

She could not imagine why anyone would want to break Titus’s heart. He was amusing and well-read, an excellent horseman, and caring.

Perhaps he’s changed .

No. Despite the events of the Season, and what her relatives had just revealed, she knew the essence of Titus would be the same. She knew him to be kind and generous, just like his late father.

There had been so many occasions in her youth when she would accompany the late Lord Ravensworth and Titus to deliver food baskets to their tenants.

She’d always felt a great sense of goodness during those outings, and enjoyed talking to the various people she’d met, especially the children.

Oh, how she’d reveled in their sense of adventure.

One year, during the Easter festival, she and Titus had created a treasure map and hidden eggs for the children to find.

It wasn’t much, but to see their smiles and happy faces, one would have thought they’d been given a pirate’s treasure.

“And you must accept when he offers,” Judith’s firm words broke through the joyful memories.

The words her sister spoke did not register in her mind at first. “Who is offering for whom?” she questioned with rising anxiety, dreading the answer as her half-sibling’s dark brown eyes bore into her.

Judith let out a long huff. “Haven’t you heard a word I said?” She did not allow Portia to respond, but went on with her scheme. “Lord Webber. He has expressed interest in you, and I have encouraged him. When he offers, you must accept.”

Panic settled into her gut. She’d only met the man once and did not care for him.

They had absolutely nothing in common, and worse, he was nearly thirty years her senior.

What would her life be like with such a man for a husband?

He had no interest in books, exploring maps, or even walking in the countryside.

His only concern was for an heir—not daughters.

He’d made that perfectly clear. He had two daughters and didn’t want any more, as if it was a controllable feat.

She could feel the bile rise at just the thought of having to lie with him.

“But what if another gentleman offers first?” The words mumbled past her lips with desperation.

“Who would offer for you?” Judith questioned, almost with shock that she’d dared ask such a question.

Portia wanted to defend herself, and was garnering the courage when, with a wave of her hand and severe tutting, Judith launched into a lecture about all the things wrong with her.

“Your looks have faded over the past few years. You have no sense of fashion. You have no connections and a paltry dowry. Not to mention that you are practically on the shelf. You should consider yourself quite fortunate that a man such as Lord Webber is even interested.”

At seven and twenty, Portia was hardly on the shelf. However, it was true that her dowry was small, and she had no connections…

Titus .

He was an earl. He had connections.

And he kissed you .

It had been a fleeting moment when two people had become caught up in a waltz and nothing more.

He hadn’t known it was her and she would leave it at that.

But what if, despite his harsh glares and avoidances, he could offer some advice?

Their fathers had been the best of friends, and surely that meant something to him. He wouldn’t turn her away, would he?

He did abandon you all those years ago .

Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. You did nothing wrong , she tried to reason with herself as desperation took hold of common sense.

She had no other option. She had to at least try, otherwise she might find herself married off to Lord Webber. That was not an option she would even consider.