@acutelyarachnophobic
Another season. Another chance to watch the Ton acting like a bunch of fools, buying and selling each other's daughters like so much chattel. Lady Millicent Thorne thanked her lucky stars she had gotten that foolishness out of the way so very long ago. Now, she was free to sit back and watch her peers run through the same ridiculous race, again and again and again.
"A message for you, Ma'am." One of the servants, a bug-eyed little man, brought a sealed missive to her on a silver tray as she took her morning tea.
Millicent took the note with an acknowledging nod to him. Another invitation, no doubt... She smiled triumphantly, knowing how rare it was for any wise member of the Ton to forget to invite her to any function. Whether she attended or not, that was entirely up to her own whim, but if she didn't get an invitation she was sure to make her displeasure known. Lady Thorne was infamous in the Ton for her sharp tongue, her cold, unforgiving nature.
Now, who was it this time, she wondered? The Graystokes? The Rosebriars? God, she hoped it wasn't that insufferable Featherington... But as she opened the letter, the name within surprised her.
The Baron of Varderos...? That wretched man? Millicent thought for sure he was dead. And good riddance to the man, too! She had met him a few times in the past, and every meeting had left her wishing she could have jammed a hat pin in his heart. And now, not only was he alive, but he had the audacity to ask her to a soiree? Or maybe it was less audacity and more... self preservation?
Either way, her curiosity was piqued despite herself. "Well... The Baron, hmm? This may be interesting..."