Hester was an orphin left living with her Uncle/Aunt/Cousins. When Lord Jasper the Marquis of Lensborough comes to choose his "brood mare" between her two cousins all goes askew. He wants her she wants no one her best friend Em wants no one his best friend Stephen wants Em. It is a bit much. The family was way to accomodating in every respect so unlike any other books with this timeframe that had to deal with a "poor relation". She was doted upon pretty much. hmmm...The child in the story Lena never really gets much attention at the end I wanted to know more. Anyway, all I kept thinking through this entire book was "just fess up and tell the truth" and all will be well. I thought she should have had more to do with punishing the villan at the end but alas ....The story was average in my opinion a nice short read for a rainy afternoon. I got it free so I wasn't to upset that I read it. Enjoy