It should be known, my dear reader, that if the practice had existed eighteen years ago, Miss Tandin's own mother, Melaana Rash, should have been the Lily of her debut season. Notwithstanding the Rash family's scandal of the previous season when the heir to that house was rumored to have gotten a common girl with child. There was a hasty private wedding but when no heir was produced in the reasonable course of time the girl was quietly put away and never heard from again.

Miss Melaana herself however rose above her elder brother's shame to become the most sought after bride in the Mid Rim. It was thought at the time that she might accept the suit of the most eligible bachelor, Viscount John Bonteri. Before the end of the season however she had turned her attention to his poorer cousin, Lieutenant Dane Tandin. And the two were married and expecting their first child within the year, truly a love match as was obvious to all present witnesses.

It was the young bride's grief at the event of the soldier's death in action that seemingly brought on her baby and when she died in childbirth, and her elder brother was not deemed as an appropriate guardian, that the infant was placed in the care of her paternal cousins Viscount and Viscountess Bonteri, who had a mere six months after their own bans were read, delivered their own first child.

Miss Soniee Tandin and Lord Lux Bonteri have as such been raised as the closest of siblings and it is this author's opinion that it will be that gentleman who will serve as the greatest obstacle to any suitor seeking the attention of this season's Lily.

…

"Congratulations, barely out in society and you've already made Lady Whistledown." Sierra Bonteri waved the gossip leaflet in Soniee's general direction.

"What does it matter?" Soniee didn't look away from fixing her hair. It had to be perfect. Tonight especially, it had to be perfect. She did wish that the author had not been quite so descriptive of her Uncle's scandal but as his continued bachelorhood and childless state were exactly the items that entitled her as the heiress of the entire Rash fortune upon his death, with a sizeable dowry until that eventuality, she supposed it didn't hurt her chances all that much of securing at least one proposal by the end of the season.

"You're already the talk of the mid rim." Sierra put down the leaflet. "As if you weren't already after the Duchess named you Lily, but now you'll have bachelors lining up."

And that was the cherry on the top of all her hopes. Soniee had scarcely believed it when their own Duchess Satine Kryze had named the most beautiful debutante of the season. It hadn't been Lagos Jerec with her golden hair, or Dalla Yularen with her doe eyes. Out of everyone, the duchess had declared Miss Soniee Tandin without flaw and named her the Lily of the Living Waters.

Soniee was not about to show a flaw after that.

"Can you believe this rubbish?" Viscountess Mina Bonteri stormed into the room waving her own copy of the Lady Whistledown paper.

Sierra stuffed her leaflet under the cushion of her chair before her mother could see.

"Whatever is wrong, Auntie Mina?" Soniee attempted to maintain her serious expression.

"It's that Whistledown woman!" She shoved the paper in Soniee's direction. "How am I supposed to find a husband for you while that woman is slandering our name?"

With a side eye at Sierra, who shrugged, Soniee suggested, "Perhaps she meant to commend you and Uncle John for taking in an orphaned cousin?"

"Well, she needn't have insinuated…" the matriarch fretted. "Just because the Viscount and I were unable to obtain a special license."

"Why would such a thing be necessary, Mother?" Sierra asked, all innocence.

The viscountess blushed scarlet. "Never you mind." She took a breath through her nose, fanning herself with the paper and addressed her niece. "Now, of course, I do not believe that anything will hamper your prospects after the duchess' pronouncement."

Then seeming to realize what she had in her hand she harrumphed. "And we will forget all about this." With a decisive nod, Viscountess Bonteri crumpled up the gossip rag and tossed it onto the smoldering ashes of the fireplace.

Sierra gasped and sought to make sure that her own copy remained well hidden from her mother's censure.

…

"I hate to miss the rest of your first season." Admiral Wullf Yularen said to his daughter. "You were spectacular last night. So grown up and refined, I don't know how the Duchess didn't fall over right then and there."

"Thank you, Father." Dalla Yularen wrung her hands. As much as her father thought she had made a splash at her debut, she had her doubts. She hadn't been named Lily, for one. And when there were heiresses with higher titles and larger dowries on the marriage mart, the admiral's daughter had barely filled out her dance card.

"I hope you know I tried to get out of it, the best I could do was postponing for your debut."

"Father, it's alright. War doesn't wait for the social season."

"If only it would." He sighed. "I trust your brother, and he's promised to carry a big stick to beat off unworthy suitors, but I wish I could be there to handle things myself."

"I doubt there will be much to handle," Dalla muttered.

Yularen hadn't seemed to hear her. "Promise you won't get married without me?"

That was easy. "I promise."

"And please go easy on your mother. We love you to death, but you know as well as I that sometimes your actions can be a little … extraordinary."

"I know. I'm me."

He laughed. "The other young ladies may have their dresses and charms, but none can compete with you when it comes to wits."

"Admiral." A servant interrupted before Dalla could reply. "Lord Rash is in the office."

"Lord Rash?" Dalla raised an eyebrow. "Don't you usually meet at the club?"

"It's nothing." Yularen gave her one last hug before going on his way. "Remember: don't vex your mother and listen to your brother. Good grief, where is he?"

…

Lux Bonteri had yet to come to terms with his own access to the establishment. This was his father's club, where he had come to play a game of sabacc or conduct business or just relax with a glass of toniray and conversation with the other peers of the Mid Rim. But now Lux was the Viscount and thus his admittance was assured.

He wouldn't be staying long. He had made the appointment ahead of time and would hopefully be able to fulfill his responsibilities and return to his own pursuits. He might not even have to remain in town for the entire season if the gentleman would agree to his proposal.

"There's no need to rush things," Alexsandr Kallus Yularen held up his hand to stay the younger man's fervor. "I'm attending the ball tonight. I will court your sister, and if I find we will suit, I'll ask for her hand with the knowledge we already have your approval."

"Well, she's not my sister exactly, she's my cousin, but I'm sure you will have no trouble finding her a suitable young lady."

Damn . Lux had just realized that he was going to have to do this all over again next year. Perhaps it would have been easier to wait a year and have both Soniee and Sierra make their entrance into society at the same time.

"Of course." They shook hands. "And if you will excuse me, my father is shipping out this evening and I wish to bid him farewell before I must prepare for the ball. I also have a sister in need of escort."

Lux watched him go with a sigh. The interview had gone about as well as he had expected. Of course it would have been preferable if he could have secured the promise of a proposal but surely that was only a matter of an actual face to face introduction. And for the time being Lux would need to dissuade any other possible suitors from becoming a distraction.

Maybe he would procure himself a glass of that toniray.

"Oh ho! Back in town just in time for the season to begin." Boomed a voice over the rest of the club's low murmur of conversation.

Lux looked around to see who had spoken but the comment hadn't been directed at himself. He did however recognize the laughing response of Saw Gerrera, the newly elevated Earl of Iziz. "It would seem so, Hutchinson."

"And does this mean that you intend to find a bride to perpetuate your new title?" The gentleman, Lord Hutchinson, elbowed the young Earl in the side.

Gerrera laughed again, good-naturedly though Lux knew his old friend's thoughts on the sacrament of marriage.

"I wouldn't bet on it. Unless," Saw grinned, "you'd be willing to wager that dalgo mare you were rumored to have swindled right under the nose of that widow, what was her name?"

"You think me a swindler?" Hutchinson clutched a hand to his heart in scandal. "I would be willing to wager a plate of my wife's desserts. They're a higher prize than any mare."

"I do like desserts." Saw and Hutchinson shook hands and laughed. "Look me up after the ball."

The ball! Lux glanced to the nearest clock and held back a curse. He would have to hurry if he wanted to make it back to his mother's home in time to collect Soniee.

"Bonteri!" Saw greeted him jovially. "Seems I almost missed you. Can I count on your company later this evening?"

"I do believe so." If everything went according to plan, Soniee would be with Kallus all evening and Lux would have plenty of time to catch up with old friends.