An Inconvenient Letter

After her love letters are accidentally sent to her neighbor Frederick Finch, Marietta Stone visits his estate with her sister Anne to steal the letters back before they can be discovered. Unfortunately, Frederick’s cousin Gerard Hartwell intercepts Etta and takes one of the letters. Gerard was once childhood friends with Etta and Anne, but now he is heir to his late father’s impoverished estate. He coerces Etta into helping him court her sister, who has a sizable dowry that could save his ruined estate; Gerard promises to return Etta’s love letter once his courtship is successful. Etta reluctantly agrees, as Gerard also promises to help her attract Frederick’s attention. Etta and Gerard end up spending more time together than with their love interests and quickly fall back into a familiar friendship. Once Gerard comes to see Etta as a grown woman, he’s determined to court her rather than her sister.