you asked among the Polite Society, Lady Sarah Torrington, was an unfortunately unique girl, from her wheatish skin to her amber eyes, from her exotic dark curls to her plump lips, from her perfectly arched eyebrows to the almost unidentifiable cleft in her chin.
But behind every matron's fan and every gentleman's glass, Lady Sarah Torrington was the popular illegitimate daughter of Lord William Torrington, the Earl of Canbury and an Indian woman.
And no one would dare say it loud, for her father was that powerful.
The Earl was in India when he met Sarawathi, a martial art student. She was a spitfire. Love blossomed. And a child happened. She left. Seven years later she returned, little Veera in tow. Sarawathi left her daughter Veera to the Earl and disappeared.
Lady Veera Sarawathi Torrington arrived at England with her father.
And on that day forward, she moulded herself to be a good daughter as her mother taught her to be.
Which was why she stood expressionless in her Father's study, as he told, no informed, her about her betrothal that she never knew about.
Though she was seething inside, Veera nodded her head like an obedient daughter.
"And I hope you understand?" The Earl said.
Though everything he said previously flew over her head, she said, "Of course, Father"
The Earl nodded his head in relief. And Veera sighed as she understood why her father was so worried.
Despite being the fantasy of numerous young bucks and being surrounded by eligible bachelor's at every ball, no one was ready to ask for her hand in marriage.
Even the five thousand pounds dowry failed to bring a man to her doorsteps.
She knew her father spent a lot of nights in his study, simply worrying over her. His fast dwindling brandy stock in the cellar was proof enough to know what he does as he worried about her.
So Veera accepted her fate as she left her Father's study and walked up the stairs to her bedchamber.