Sarah placed her hands on Jane’s shoulder, steering her away from their father, but she was too riled up to listen to her sensible sister. Not on this. Not when it concerned her future.A future her father was about to trade away.
“How could you do this to me, Father?”
Her heart beat fast in her chest. All along, she had been too angry to think about how she felt. She refrained from rubbing away the sting in her chest. She would not let him see just how much she was hurt by his betrayal.
“Did you know about this?” she turned to her sister who took a step back, staring at her in shock.
“Jane, I-” Sarah started, but was cut off by their father.
“Leave your sister out of this. There was nothing she could have done to stop this even if she knew.”
The viscount sighed. “Look here, Jane. Perhaps my methods are too old-fashioned for you to understand and that is why we have continued to clash on things, but everything I have done has been for the good of you and your sister.”
She stared at her father. Her lips opened to utter words she wasn’t certain of their direction but he spoke before she could.
“Moreover, you could certainly do a lot worse than the man I have found you. The Marquess of Pennington is of good age, powerful, wealthy, and titled. He has the means to care for you and you shall have no reasons to complain.”
Jane stiffened. “Ah, I suppose I should have known. This is just another business dealing for you, Father. Did you think of my needs first before you chose him to be my husband or were myneeds merely an afterthought as you picked him based on his wealth?”
“Jane Dowding, you will not speak to me in such manner. You might have forgotten your manners but surely you have not forgotten that I am your father,” he blustered, his face turning a bright red as he stared her down.
“Jane! Do stop it, please,” Sarah chided, her eyes widening as she silently pleaded with Jane to be calm.
“I do apologize for her, Father. Perhaps it would have been best for her to have been more prepared before you sought to introduce them.”
Jane glared at her sister. She had always been appreciative of her sister’s efforts to take care of her and stand up for her when she was at loggerheads with their father, but now was not one of those times.
She looked around as people milled about them. The curious guests had gone back to their conversations, quickly bored by their inability to acquire the gossip they wanted as a result of their hushed tones.
“I did not realize that I had to consult with my daughter before making a decision concerning her welfare,” the viscount snapped, glaring between Sarah and Jane.
Sarah looked away from her father, biting her lips, following the anger in her father’s voice, however, the action only angered Jane as she moved closer to her sister, ready to come to her defense if need be.
“She is right. I should not have had to find out about this only moments before it happened, Father, and I will not be a part of this charade. I will choose who I plan to marry.”
The viscount looked around, his eyes searching for what Jane could not find. She looked at him in confusion as he turned back to her, wearing a look that made it clear he was not backing down.
“I fail to see the men that are lining up, wishing to court you. Perhaps you would have a say in who you wish to marry if you had even one man coming up to me, seeking my permission to court you,” he chastised, his voice low and yet, carrying his ire.
Jane swallowed and looked away, feeling defeated. Her lids blinked rapidly as she struggled to control the angry tears that threatened to fall down her face.
Why can’t he just understand that he does not have to control every part of my life?
She dug her fingers into her palm to stop the overwhelming urge to cry out to him and beg him to put an end to his plan. She would not beg, especially when it was clear that he would not be changing his mind on the topic.
“I sincerely hope that you can put an end to your childish antics long enough to see that I am doing this for you,” the viscount uttered with a long-suffering sigh.
“Do try to be on the best of behaviors tonight and rest assured that once the marquess asks for your hand in marriage, I will be accepting his suit. My mind will not be changed on the matter,” he said.
“Father, I cannot let this happen, I will not-” Jane started after her father as he walked away from her, waving at an old friend.
“Jane, please,” Sarah held her hand tightly, stopping her from following their father and causing a scene.
She stopped, distraught. She had known the day would come when her father would no longer be lenient with her and push for her to marry. But she had never expected it to happen so soon, nor had she thought that it would happen with her father choosing a suitor for her, completely disregarding her opinion in the matter.
She smiled a small smile as an acquaintance waved them over, shaking her head politely in refusal. She could not very well indulge in small talks, not when her life seemed to be going down in shambles.
“Jane, I do not think it will do you any good to rile Father up. Perhaps it is best to follow his plan for the night. Let him see that you take his words into account,” Sarah suggested as she led her further into the party.
