Lady Madeline's Folly
HE WAS HER PROTEGE.  BUT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR HER.

"I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY HEART SMASHED AND TOSSED OVER YOUR SHOULDERS LIKE THE OTHERS."

So young Henry Aldred declared when his beautiful older cousin, Lady Madeline, decided to make him her protege.  Lady Madeline was famous for her proteges.  She was always picking out some deserving fellow to launch in society.  It was her hobby.

This time, however, she decided that what she really felt was love.  As her friend, Lord Eskott (who had twice asked her to marry him), stood waiting in the wings, Lady Madeline was fast turning her bumpkin cousin into a fashion plate.

But there was something about Henry that Lord Eskott didn't trust.  It seemed to him the lad was just another fortune hunter.

Lady Madeline refused to see it.  Until it was almost too late.