Tabitha

Book excerpt: Set in Regency England, Tabitha lives with her oblivious father, her aunt who despises her, her cousin Katrina so beautiful it's maddening, and her uncle--also the enemy of her only friend, her eccentric cousin Lars. Neglected by everyone else, it is Lars who takes her under his colorful--if unconventional--wing and teaches her to laugh at Etiquette, the unofficial religion of English society. Together they lead an undisturbed life of play and antagonizing Katrina. Then...Lars runs away. With nobody left to count on, Tabitha is forced to turn to Lord Bradford. Her dislike of him is only rivaled by his dislike of her. However, thrown into a few comical situations each find each other less appalling than they first thought. Lord Bradford also happens to be in love with the beautiful Katrina. As far as Tabitha is concerned, he can have her... Tabitha is introduced to high society. For once in her life she is popular, sought after, and loved--perhaps even by the lord who sets her heart astir. But out of all of Etiquette's commandments she's broken, falling in love with a lord has to be the biggest. Tabitha could never have imagined that just when she felt on top of the world, it was all about to crumble beneath her.