Upon reaching Henry, his glare pierced through Jane as he demanded immediately, "And what do you think you're doing?" His tone boomed his disappointment and anger. "Why would you return to my estate when you have very clearly and openly already been married off?"
Jane had well expected this. Feeling the weight of his accusatory gaze, she remained silent, unable to muster a defense for her actions. After all, he was the last person she could trust to share the truth with.
After a tense moment of silence, Henry's voice lowered as he took a step forward, glaring down at Jane intensely, "I am horribly disappointed in you.” There was so much sincerity in his tone as he spoke.
“I knew you were a problem, but I certainly had neither the idea nor expectation you would turn out to be this much of a disgrace."
Jane's heart sank at his harsh words, each syllable cutting deeper. With her head bent, she blinked rapidly, doing her best to prevent the tears that quickly began gathering at the corners of her eyes.
Sarah’s gentle squeeze did little for soothing at this point.
“Father, I’m sure she’s tired from setting out so early. Perhaps, it would be better to discuss this situation during the-”
“Shut your mouth, child. I am not nearly finished with her!” Henry’s sudden bellow echoed around the area, causing both girls to shrink into silence.
Jane braced herself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead. Her choices had led her to this moment of tongue-lashing from her father. There was nothing more to do than to take it.
Henry's harsh words cut through the air as he admonished her once again, "You should be ashamed for leaving your home and your husband! Do you hear me? It’s not nearly been half a year since you got married, yet here you are!"
His accusations continued, feeling like hot coal against Jane’s skin as he lashed out at her without restraint, "Yet, I should not be surprised after all. No man would tolerate you, not with that unbridled tongue of yours. I'm certain the duke sent you away, and who could blame him?"
He snarled as he took a step closer, yelling in her face, “You were a duchess! A duchess! You would never come to such an achievement ever again, you were to know this, yet, you squandered it all!”
"We do not know what went wrong yet, let's not jump to conclusions, Father." Sarah’s voice asserted.
Her sharp, clear tone called forth a new form of tension as Henry and Jane turned towards her in shock. Jane wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. For the first time, her sister’s gaze met their father’s unabashedly, clearly challenging him.
Henry's frown deepened as he squinted at Sarah and spoke, "And why do you think your sister didn't clarify in her letter why she was coming back?"
Sarah’s face formed a frown as she opened her mouth to respond, "If she could not tell the truth via the letter, she certainly would not be saying it now."
Cutting off Sarah's attempt to speak again, Henry turned to Jane, his eyes piercing, his tone daring as he questioned, "Aren’t I correct in my assumptions?"
Jane’s eyes fell to the floor. Speaking to Henry in any form might have her living on the streets. Despite how it hurt, she swallowed her words and kept silent.
“And there it is!” He let out a shocked laughter, “You could not keep this attitude around your husband, could you?
Sarah's protective instinct seemed to flare as she drew Jane close, her voice firm as she snapped at their father, "Stop talkingto Jane like that. You have no idea what she might have gone through."
Both Henry and Jane’s jaws tilted slightly at her fierceness. However, Henry managed to recompose himself quicker, laughing and sputtering with rage flashing in his eyes. "You have no room to talk, either. Your only option for marriage is gone due to your unworthiness!”
Jane’s eyes widened at this, and she turned to Sarah once more, "Graham broke off the engagement?"
Before Sarah could respond, Henry gnarled through gritted teeth, "Seems I was cursed with unsuccessful women And here I have been, doing my best to keep your failed engagement discreet, and this is how I'm repaid!"
"As I had been saying earlier, I shall take Jane inside and help her get settled. We can discuss as a family when emotions are not so high."
Henry’s eyes were nearly popping out their sockets, stunned by Sarah’s sudden boldness. He struggled to react, only managing to call out for them to return as the girls had already made their way to the door.
Ignoring Henry's yells, Sarah rushed in with Jane, without making a stop, headed straight for her room. Only when they were settled and Jane had eaten, did Sarah speak up again.
"Now that you're a spinster again, I fear you’ll have to pay more attention to staying away from Graham, sister." Her face twisted in distaste, she continued, "There's something terribly wrong with the man."
At the mention of his name, Jane stared at her sister blankly. Already feeling overwhelmed from all that had happened, the words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"Graham threatened to harm you and Colin's nieces if I don't end my marriage with Colin."
Sarah mouth froze as it was open, her face displaying shock, fear, disgust, and realization as she fought to process Jane's words.
