Jilted by Day, Cuddled At Night

IntheFederalEmpire,anywomanwhohadreachedtwentyyearsofagemustgetmarried,orberandomlyassignedahusbandbytheSystem.Thus,onherweddingday,theeveofher20thbirthday,ValerieSullivanwaitedanxiouslyforherbetrothed,IsaacHolt,toshowup—onlytofindoutthathewasnotcomingafterall!Trappedinthisdesperatesituation,shegrabbedthefirsthandsomestrangershebumpedintoandgothimtobeherstand-ingroom.ItdidnothurtthatthismysteriousJonnywasjusthertype—youngandinnocent-looking,withfurryearsandalargefluffytail.So,whatifheseemedalittlelostandconfused?Theweddingwentonasplanned,andValeriewassavedfrompublichumiliationbutonlyforthemoment.Afterall,hermarriagetoIsaacwassupposedtosolidifythebusinesspartnershipbetweentheSullivansandtheHolts.Inaddition,hersister,Madeline,didnotseemtoohappythatthingsturnedoutwellforValerie.Worstofall,ValeriefoundoutthatJonnywasanimportant,influentialfigure—JonathanGunn—thefirstcommanderoftheEmpireanduncletothecurrentmonarch!WhohadValerieactuallymarried—thesensitive,adorableJonny,ortheformidable,impassiveJonathan?Wouldthislast-secondpairingendintrueloveordivorce?