A Pretend Betrothal

A Pretend Betrothal –––––––– Book 2 of –––––––– A Victorian Romance Lana Williams USA Today Bestselling Author A Pretend Betrothal Book 2 of The Mayfair Literary League By Lana Williams JOIN THE LADIES OF The Mayfair Literary League as they pursue a new mission: For Better or Worse. One bold move could change their futures... The bachelors of London won’t know what hit them when these bookish ladies set their sights on the men in their lives who don’t see them for who they truly are—yet. Can she reclaim her childhood best friend AND convince him to love her? Lady Tabitha Malton spends her days caring for her mother who feigns illness to keep Tibby at her side. Tibby can’t bring herself to protest until The Mayfair Literary League proposes a new agenda—perform a bold act to catch the notice of their secret crush. Michael Shaw isn’t the same man who left England’s shores a decade ago to serve in the military, but his well-meaning mother doesn’t seem to understand. Her insistence that he take a wife is driving him mad. How can he consider marriage when he feels broken and battered inside? A pretend betrothal might be the perfect solution for them both. Tibby isn’t the same person either. She’s grown into a beautiful woman whose intelligence and grace intrigues him at every turn. A “pretend” kiss upends his world until he’s no longer certain what he wants with one exception—her. Tibby knows she’s in over her head and has already lost her heart to the handsome captain. Will her bold move lead to love or heartache? Table of Contents Other Books in the Series Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Epilogue Other Books by Lana Williams About the Author Copyright Other Books in The Mayfair Literary League Series: A Marriage of Convenience, Book 1 A Pretend Betrothal, Book 2 A Mistaken Identity, Book 3 Prologue London, England 1870 Lady Tabitha Malton’s stomach fluttered with nerves as she entered the emergency meeting of the Mayfair Literary League. In the year since she’d been a member, they’d never held anything other than the normal monthly gatherings. She couldn’t imagine what had happened that called for an urgent summons. The other five members of the book group were now dear friends. Considering how few friends Tabitha had, that made them particularly special. She would do anything for them and knew they felt the same. Lady Phoebe Fitzroy, their host, was one of her closest friends. From her grave expression, something of weighty consequence had occurred. Given the fact that their new secret agenda, For Better or Worse, was underway, Tabitha assumed the special meeting was related to it. Well over a month and a half ago, Phoebe had proposed that in addition to discussing books, they take on a new mission—to catch the interest of the gentlemen for whom they held a secret tendre. She’d challenged them to perform a bold act to help the men who had caught their affection but had yet to return it, let alone notice them, to see them in a new light. Phoebe had spoken with each of the league members privately, including Tabitha, and discovered that each of them had a man in their life they admired but who—to speak plainly—didn’t know they existed even after several London Seasons. Tabitha had come to believe that, as a wallflower, it was her fate to be ignored. She wasn’t memorable or remarkable in any way. Her mother’s poor health, whether true or feigned, meant Tabitha attended fewer and fewer events as she didn’t like to leave her mother for long. Phoebe viewed the futures of their members differently. Her impassioned call to action when she’d proposed the For Better or Worse agenda suggested they step into the light and do something out of the ordinary to catch the attention of the man they held in high esteem. Phoebe would be the first to claim her curves were too generous and her features, along with brown hair and eyes, too plain. Tabitha, who had similar coloring but a slim figure that resembled a lad more than a full-grown woman, was envious of Phoebe’s curves. Tabitha’s long legs and arms made her feel as if she’d never lost the gangliness of youth. She felt lanky and awkward much of the time. Unfortunately, the feeling intensified in social situations. Was it any wonder that few men asked her to dance or made any effort to further their acquaintance? But here with the members of the literary league, she knew she belonged and could offer her opinion without worry. The group had become a haven where she could be her true self. Phoebe cleared her throat, a subtle hint that she intended to call the meeting to order. “Thank you for coming to this emergency meeting of the Mayfair Literary League. Unfortunate circumstances have occurred, and I owe you an explanation.” One of the many reasons Tibby, as she was known by most of her friends, admired Phoebe was because of her courage. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if some of her ideas were unconventional. Thus far, Tibby had only managed to find that same bravery during literary meetings. Sharing her opinion on books wasn’t so difficult in front of the league. They listened to what she had to say, sometimes agreeing and sometimes not. The first time she’d been brave enough to state her view had been incredibly liberating. A feeling that her ever-narrowing world rarely provided. Now she worried whether she spoke too plainly at times during their book discussions. Who knew that Lady Tabitha Malton could be so outspoken? The thought nearly made her smile. She hoped that meant she was making progress and finding her voice, but that