Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of no fortune must be in want of a wealthy husband.
However little desire a woman has for marriage, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that it is considered outrageous that a woman of little fortune would wish to remain single.
“Korra! Korra!” said her cousin, Jinora to her one day, “have you heard that Netherfield park is let at last?”
“No, I have not. But really, why should that matter to me?” Korra replied, not looking up from her book.
“Korraaaaa,” Jinora sat down next to Korra, “Don't you even want to know who has taken it?”
“Not particularly,” said Korra, still reading her book.
“Well, I'll tell you anyway,” Jinora was perhaps the most stubborn of Korra's cousins.
Korra merely sighed in response.
“Well, I heard Papa say to Mama that Netherfield has been taken by a wealthy businessman, his daughter, and his three handsome proteges” Jinora was also the most romantic of Korra's cousins.
“I still do not understand why you think I'd be at all interested in this”.
“Did I forget to mention his three handsome proteges?” Jinora said in an excited tone, “And they're all single!”
“Why that concerns me, I have no idea,” was Korra's reply.
“Korra,” Jinora sighed, “You must know what a fantastic opportunity this is for you. Your parents did not leave you with much of a fortune, so this may well be your chance of changing all that”.
“Well, I've no desire for a husband, protege of a wealthy man or not, and I kindly ask you not to bring up my parents”. Korra's parents had died at an early age, forcing her to live with her kindly aunt and uncle and three younger cousins.
“I am sorry,” Jinora said, eyes downcast in embarrassment, “But!” she brightened, “Papa has already gone to visit, and I daresay we shall see them all at the next assembly!”
“And I'm sure you shall tell me all about it the next day,” Korra had never been overly fond of balls and assemblies. She preferred other forms of physical activity, such as riding.
“Oh, but you must go!” Jinora insisted, “Please? For me?”
Korra laughed, she had never been able to resist her younger cousins charms, “All right, I shall go. For you, not for some gallant dandy”.
Jinora hugged her cousin. Rarely was it that Korra agreed to go to such events, and already Jinora was planning the next step to finding her cousin a husband.