Putting on Airs

Imogene Cartwright, along with her brother and sister, has been betrothed since infancy by the workings of their mother. But as they all come of age to marry, Imogene realizes her great dislike for her betrothed, her cousin Mr. Campbell, and is determined to break the betrothal, even at the detriment of her social reputation. In the interim, her sister is happily wed to her betrothed, and her brother breaks his betrothal with Clarice upon discovering she is a foundling, forging adverse relations between the Cartwrights and Clarice’s caretaker, Mr. Archer. Imogene’s only solace comes from her best friend Jane and their new neighbors, the Cole Family, the younger, robust Mr. Phillip Cole immediately catching her interest. However, she discovers a mysterious bit of black mail clouding the elder, brooding Mr. Henry Cole, which draws her into difficulty and danger only to be remedied by the man she loves—which man that is keeps the reader guessing until the final chapter.