‘I consider it every girl’s duty to marry £80,000 a year,’ announced 17-year-old Alice Miles in 1868, during a break from the endless merry-go-round of balls, picnics and dinner parties that made up the Season. She was teasing one of her less wordly cousins, but there was deadly serious intent behind her words.
The Mileses, who had moved to Paris, were well-connected but financially stretched, so it was essential that their daughter snare a wealthy man. This real-life Becky Sharp hit London like a ribbonfestooned tornado, charming eligible bachelors and outraging their mothers. She recorded her adventures in a journal, which COUNTRY LIFE will be serialising for the next six months. Will our wily heroine’s hunt for a rich husband end in success, or will love cause her to neglect her duty?
Week 1: Arrival in London
Week 2: Alice hits the London season
Week 3: Alice attends a society ball
Week 4: Alice makes an impression
Week 5: Alice continues to make acquintances
Week 6: Alice under scrutiny
Week 7: Alice accepts an invitation
Week 8: Alice visits a castle
Week 9: An eye-opening visit for Alice
Week 10: Sunday at church
Week 11: A day at Doncaster races
Week 12: Meeting Mr Morland Hutton
Week 13: A strange sensation
Week 14: A late night rendezvous
Week 15: A last walk with Mr Hutton
Week 16: Alice charms Mr Hutton’s friend
Week 17: Alice gets a visitor from India
Week 18: Alice charms a hero
Week 19: An interrupted kiss
Week 20: Alice faces a man ban
Week 21: A chance meeting
Week 22: A flirtatious train journey
