When Gina discovers that she’s basically being sold to an older man to rescue her family’s company, she’s appalled. She’s underage, under-educated, and under prepared for such a venture. There go her plans to be a suffragette. When she turns to her brother’s old friend and a past crush for the one thing she can do, she’s desperate.

Mark was shocked to see Gina after so many years. The pesky little girl that trailed after her brother and his friends in the past is long gone and a beautiful young woman has taken her place. But now he’s only the head gardener. Then she asks one favor. Can he possibly grant it?

Excerpt –

Regina Berkeley, Gina to her close friends, took a deep breath and looked downstairs toward the library where her parents waited. She still had no idea why she’d been summoned home. Yes, school had ended, and the graduation ceremony held, but she’d been granted permission and scheduled for a cruise to England with fellow students from her boarding school, Madeline, Elizabeth, and Cordelia, along with Cordelia’s governess, Miss Williams, as chaperone for a well-earned vacation. She was seventeen now and ready for a little freedom. Miss Williams was known to be a little lenient when all the girls were together, though that was not known to their parents.

Gina still hoped to be allowed to attend the university, but Mother had made her thoughts plain as opposed to that. Too much education for a woman seemed to make them less marriageable in her opinion. Why that should still be the thought in 1903, Gina couldn’t imagine. It was a whole new century and time for women to take a stand.

Going into her father’s business was a dream of hers, though she kept that from Mother as well. Cooking and needlework had been learned out of necessity and running a household had at least been interesting. Miss Carson had made it so, though Mother was unaware of the lessons behind the lessons. All of the girls had kept quiet about Miss Carson’s activism.

Before any of that could be pursued, she had obtained her parents’ permission for the planned cruise months ago, now instead she found herself here rather than with her friends on board ship headed to Europe. It wasn’t because her parents wanted her company, she knew better than that. So, what was the purpose of this trip home?

Gina still hadn’t seen her brother, Regis, and hadn’t had time to go looking for him. She hoped he could tell her what was going on. She felt as though she were still on the train. That at least had been an adventure of sorts. Father hadn’t sent a carriage for her which was unusual, but she had ridden the train for the first hour with Rebecca in a private car before reaching her stop, then the last hour alone. The adventure had worn off quickly when she was by herself, but of course no one had bothered her. It was just lonely and boring with only her thoughts for company. Why Mother had allowed her to travel alone, even for an hour she didn’t know, but she had to admit she had reveled in the feeling of freedom it engendered.

Their regular groomsman had not been at the station to pick her up. She had recognized the man who was there from one of Father’s factories when he approached her and tipped his cap. He had loaded her trunks and boxes into a hired carriage which was not as nice as theirs and driven her home. She had no money for a tip, but assumed Father would take care of it, since the man worked for him. Of course Mother had been too busy to come to the station, no doubt making her morning rounds of her friends or entertaining them at home. Such a place as the station was too dirty for her in any case.

Gina hadn’t had time to change from her traveling ensemble since arriving at the house and still felt a bit dusty, but she had been summoned downstairs. She hadn’t yet seen Liz, who had acted as her personal maid before going off to school, to help her change in any case. That was unusual and she wondered what task Mother had set for the girl to keep her from assisting Gina. With this outfit she could do it herself, but for now she needed to see what they required of her.

Regis must be holed up at work, but he seemed to love that. From what she’d heard, they couldn’t pry him out of the office. Her mother was especially proud of that fact. Gina’s own hard work at her academics was just expected, and in the end useless for a female. Some brother he was, to not give her a little heads-up warning about this unexpected summons, though she had to admit the distance between them had grown lately.

“Regina, please join us in the library.” Mother’s voice came up the stairs, not yelling, never yelling. That was unladylike. She must have trained for that; however, it was loud enough to carry and always held that ever-present tone of command.

Maybe now Gina would finally learn what was going on. Then she would change, maybe even soak in a bath if she could locate Liz.

She entered the library and took her seat on the divan as her mother indicated. Mother took the seat beside her after eyeing her outfit. If she had wanted her to change, she should have given her time. Getting dust on the furniture happened. She kept quiet about it though. Father stood by the fireplace. He looked older somehow than when she’d seen him at graduation, just a week ago. It was subtle but there. Maybe he wasn’t sleeping well. Mother looked as serene as ever. Showing emotion aged the skin. How many times had she heard that?

“I’m sure you’re wondering why we canceled your trip,” Mother began.

So, she was getting right to the subject. Gina knew better than to interrupt, though she was bristling with questions, so she only forced herself to look interested and gave a slight nod.

“There have been several developments with the company,” her father took up the, well it wasn’t exactly a conversation. “Some reversals, easily handled.”

“That’s why we asked you to be here.”

Asked?

“Yes?” Gina replied at the pause. Some reply seemed expected.

“We’re having a guest for dinner tonight. You’ve met him before, Gerald Killbourne,” Father continued.

Was she supposed to respond to that? The name didn’t ring any bells. She decided nodding would be sufficient.

“He’s a lovely man and we want you to be especially nice to him this evening,” Mother said. “He is very important to our future.”

“Excuse me,” Gina finally spoke. “I’m here to meet this Mr. Killbourne?”

“As I said, you have already met him. This is to give you some time to get to know him.”

The only Killbourne that she could remember was a silver haired man her father’s age. He was what was known as a big deal with finance or something. The light blinked on in her head. “You want me to—”

“Get close to him.” Her mother interrupted. “He’s extremely vital to the health of the family company.”

“Wait a minute.” The light got brighter, blinding her. Gina rose from the divan and looked back and forth between her parents, appalled. “What are you saying? I don’t have time for a relationship, even a false one currently. I’m still hoping to attend—”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mother snapped. “You have more than enough education for your station in life.”

Why was Mother talking instead of Father? If it was about the company… Dread flooded Gina, and her mind whirled. She hadn’t reached her majority yet. She had thought, well hoped, that most of her formal education was still in front of her.

The aging of her father, Regis’ absence, being summoned home to meet this man. “Isn’t Mr. Killbourne Father’s age? I would never be—” she blurted. She would never have said those words except for the sudden flood of alarm. The force of the palm against her face drove her back a step before the pain registered. Mother had never struck her before, at least not where it would show. Switches to the leg was more common but even that had been before she’d gone away to school. Shock rendered her silent.

She glanced over at her father, but he was staring at the floor and didn’t acknowledge her. Or protect her.

“Gerald will be here for cocktails at six thirty. You will be ready. I will have your ensemble laid out for you.” Mother’s eyes blazed, but it looked as though Father had wilted even further. He had not defended her from Mother, not even a word, a murmur.

Gina left the library silently, her cheeks blazing, one more than the other, but didn’t return upstairs. Her trunks had arrived but had not been unpacked. She didn’t want to see them and dwell on where she had thought she would be at this time. Right now, she desperately needed some time alone and maybe some air.

Stepping outside, she headed for the formal garden her mother had insisted was necessary for the estate when they had moved here. Gina still remembered fondly the house they’d lived in prior to the move. It had been a nice house with friendly neighbors. That was before. Now they lived in this monstrosity of an estate that Mother considered her due with turrets and columns. Unnecessary rooms. Mother now had a morning room and a receiving room in addition to the ballroom. The curtains puddled in this house to add a dramatic flair. Or make more work for the staff according to Miss Carson.

What on earth had happened?