2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Everything has a price.

Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.

Everything except her.

Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win. When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride: never underestimate a Ravenel.

The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun.

Setting
Hampshire, England (June 1876)

26 Chapters
Epilogue

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Recurring Characters
Cassandra Ravenel: Theo’s younger sister, Pandora’s twin. She’s 21-years old with blond hair and blue eyes.
Tom Severin: Railroad magnate. He owns London Ironstone, a private railway company. He’s a friend of Devon but recently tried to cheat him out of their land’s mineral rights.
Weston (West) Ravenel: Devon’s younger brother who manages the family estate. He’s engaged to Phoebe. He’s 24-years old, 6’4” with brown-black hair and blue eyes.
Phoebe St. Vincent, Lady Clare: Gabriel’s sister, the oldest of the siblings. She’s engaged to West and is a widow who was married to Henry, Lord Clare who died while she was pregnant with their second child. She’s mother to Justin and Stephen. She has red hair and light gray eyes.
Justin, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s 4-year old son.
Stephen, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s infant son who was born after his father died.
Henry, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s deceased husband.
Pandora Ravenel: Theo’s younger sister, Cassandra’s twin. She’s 21-years old with dark brown hair.
Gabriel St. Vincent: Eldest son of Sebastian and Evangeline (Evie) St. Vincent, the Duke and Duchess of Kingston. He has amber hair and blue eyes.
Helen Ravenel Winterborne: Oldest of the Ravenel sisters, she’s married to Rhys and mother of their newborn son, Taron. She’s 21-years old with white blond hair and light blue-gray eyes.
Rhys Winterborne: Wealthy businessman and owner of a successful department store. He’s married to Helen and father of their newborn son, Taron.
Devon Ravenel, Lord Trenear: New Earl of Trenear. Hes married to Kathleen and father of their son, William. He’s 28-years old, tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
Kathleen Ravenel, Lady Trenear: Married to Devon and mother of their newborn son, William. Former widow of Theo Ravenel, the former Earl of Trenear who recently died. She was the daughter of Lord Carbery, an Irish peer. She was only married to Theo three days before he died. She has amber eyes and auburn hair.
Garrett Gibson: Female doctor trained in France. She was hired by Rhys to work with Dr. Havelock to provide health services to the workers in his business. She has dark brown hair and green eyes.
Ethan Ransom: Man Rhys hired to follow Vance. He’s an inspector at Scotland Yard, secret service division. He’s 6’ with dark hair and blue eyes.
Theo Ravenel, Lord Trenear: Former Earl of Trenear who died when he was thrown from a horse.
Jane Ravenel: Mother of the Ravenel siblings, deceased.
Edmund Ravenel: Father of the Ravenel siblings, deceased.
Lord Berwick: Man who, along with his wife, took Kathleen in when she was sent away by her parents.
Eleanor, Lady Berwick: Woman who helped raise Kathleen after she was sent away by her parents. She’s helping with the twins and their seasons of introduction to society.
Dolly, Lady Colwick: Lady Berwick’s youngest daughter who recently married.
Arthur, Lord Colwick: Dolly’s husband.
Hayhurst: Dolly’s true love.
Lord Carbery: Kathleen’s father.
Bronwen Winterborne: Rhys’ mother.
Carys Winterborne: Peggy’s child by Albion, making her Helen’s half sister. She’s 4-years old. Rhys changed her name from Charity Wednesday.
Evangeline (Evie) St. Vincent, Lady Kingston: Gabriel’s mother, the Duchess of Kingston. Married to Sebastian.
Sebastian St. Vincent, Lord Kingston: Gabriel’s father, the Duke of Kingston. Married to Evie.
Raphael St. Vincent: Gabriel’s younger brother.
Seraphina St. Vincent: Gabriel’s youngest sister. She’s 18-years old and is a strawberry blond.
Michael Ivo St. Vincent: Gabriel’s youngest sibling.
Stanley Gibson: Garrett’s invalid father.
Angus Ransom: Ethan’s father.
Lillian Marsden, Lady Westcliff: One of the Wallflowers. Married to Marcus. They have three sons and three daughters.
Marcus Marsden, Lord Westcliff: Married to Lillian. They have three sons and three daughters.
Merritt Marsden Sterling: Lillian and Marcus’ oldest daughter and one of Phoebe’s closest friends. She’s married to Joshua.
Joshua Sterling: An American-born shipping magnate married to Merritt.
Foxhall (Fox) Marsden: Lillian and Marcus’s oldest son, a viscount.
Drago: aka Dragon. Former employee at Jenner’s that Gabriel hires as Pandora’s footman.
William Havesby: Rhys’ staff doctor.
Mrs. Fernsby: Rhys’ personal secretary.
Sutton: Devon’s valet.
Oakes: Gabriel’s valet.
Quincy: Theo’s former valet, now working for Rhys Winterborne.
Clara: Kathleen’s lady’s maid.
Ida: Pandora’s lady’s maid.
Meg: Cassandra’s lady’s maid.
Pauline: Helen’s lady’s maid.
Eliza: Garrett’s maid.
Ernestine: Phoebe’s lady’s maid.
Mrs. Church: Eversby Priory housekeeper.
Mrs. Abbott: Housekeeper at the London Trenear house.
Anna Edevane: Carys’ nursemaid.
Nanny Bracegirdle: Justin and Stephen’s nursemaid.
Mr. Bloom: Stablemaster.
Weeks: Doctor.
Ioan Crewe: Rhy’s best friend, deceased.
Peggy Gilmore Crewe: Ivan’s wife, deceased.
Mr. Sauveterre: Master jeweler.
Charles Burgess: Rhys’ solicitor.
Albion Vance: Lady Jane’s former lover. He’s Lord Berwick’s nephew.
Lord Westcliff: Gabriel’s friend.
Asad: Kathleen’s horse, an Arabian.
Napoleon: One of the Trenear’s two dogs.
Josephine: One of the Trenear’s two dogs.
Ajax: Ivo’s dog, a retriever.
Galoshes: Barn cat adopted by Justin.

Non Recurring Characters
Christopher Barnaby: Tom’s personal assistant and secretary.
Chambers Paxton: Tom’s former mentor.
Young Bazzle: aka Basil Severin. Street urchin Tom hires and takes in.
Roland, Lord Lambert: Heir to the Marquis of Ripon and Cassandra’s suitor.
Uncle Batty: Man who Bazzle lives with in St. Giles.
Adelia Howard: Daughter of Lord Beaumont. She’s interested in Tom as her family needs his money.
Mrs. Dankworth: Tim’s housekeeper.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Cassandra is shamed by Lord Lambert and his father after he sexually assaulted her at a ball. When the Marquis anonymously publishes a damning piece in the newspaper that ruins her reputation, Tom retaliates by buying the newspaper, proving the Marquis wrote the piece and exposing him and his son for their awful behavior.

Cassandra agrees to marry Tom after sensing he has deeper feelings for her than even he recognizes and they developing a marriage contract made up of agreed upon rules between each other. It doesn’t take long for Tom to realize his love for her.

Cassandra convinces Tom to take Bazzle (now named Basil) in as his ward.

Kathleen is about seven months pregnant. (hide spoiler)]