Alice took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "But forcing me into a marriage I don’t want won’t solve anything! I need to find someone who appreciates me for who I am, not for the image you want me to project. I cannot be someone else for the rest of my life."
Timothy’s face flushed with anger. "You think you know what’s best? You are a young lady of society. Your happiness should come from making a perfect match, not pursuing whims. Not from reading books and filling your head with nonsense ideologies about love and marriage. You are running out oftime, Alice. I will not have my reputation tarnished because you choose to rebel against your responsibilities."
"I’m not rebelling," Alice countered, her voice steadying with determination. "I refuse to live my life in the shadow of someone else’s expectations. I will find my match, but have you considered, Papa, that your relentless interference are a hindrance to my path?"
"How dare you?" Timothy gasped.
Alice lowered her head as the familiar feeling of fear washed over her on hearing the anger in Timothy’s voice.
"I am not rebelling," she repeated. "I just...I don’t know."
The room fell silent for a few seconds, giving Alice a moment to gather her thoughts. She slowly sat back down and crossed her arms. Even though Edward had embarrassed her family by eloping after promising Timothy he would marry Alice, her father still found a way to place all the blame squarely on her shoulders.
She had gone out of her way. She had done things she laughed at other people about, just so Timothy would be pleased, yet still...still, he could only blame her for his plan falling through.
"Papa, there are still ways we can salvage this," Catherine said, breaking the silence. "Edward might have been a good matchthat slipped through our fingers, but I am certain there are other gentlemen we can find."
"Not titled ones," Timothy said. "I’m afraid we are down to our last resort. There is still a gentleman left who is suitable. He wouldn’t mind taking Alice as his bride."
Alice felt a chill at her father’s words as her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. She had thought that the Earl was last on her father’s list of possible suitors. "Who is he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The Duke of Ravenmoor," he announced. "If we intend to make a match this season, then he is out last option."
"The Duke of Ravenmoor?" Patience asked.
"The Duke of Ravenmoor?" Alice asked even louder, springing to her feet. "Papa, you cannot be serious right now. Are you serious? No...You are not. You’re not, right?"
"He is a man of considerable wealth and influence, Alice. He is a Duke," Timothy said. "Your future will be secure and well taken care of."
"That’s not the issue," Alice said, placing both hands on her hips. She turned to Patience with pleading eyes. Mama, are you listening to this?"
Patience let out a soft sigh. "Alice, he is a Duke. A match with him will secure not only your future but also elevate our family’s status. This is a rare opportunity, one that doesn’t come around often. You must at least consider it."
"Consider it?" Alice asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "Papa, I have taken all that you have thrown at me. I have done what you asked, smiled and entertained the gentlemen you deemed suitable. But this is a new level entirely. You know the rumors that circulate about this man."
"You have rumors of your own too, Alice so you have no grounds to be judgmental," Timothy said.
"The worst thetoncan call me is arrogant and a wallflower," she said. "But the Duke of Ravenmoor has rumors for days! He has no friends, he rarely attends social gatherings-"
"Enough," Timothy said. "Rumors are just that. Rumors. People love to talk, especially about those with power. You cannot let idle gossip dictate your future. I know a way to secure this match, so I will do it."
"He was your last resort for a reason, Papa," Alice continued to argue. "Do you know how beastly someone has to be, to be rejected by even the desperate Mamas of theton?"
"I said enough," Timothy reiterated. "I am exhausted, Alice. You will not question my judgment on this matter. If the Duke will have you, then you will marry him. End of discussion."
With that, Timothy walked out of the drawing-room, leaving Alice standing in the middle of the room with confusion etched all over her face. Of all the people Timothy could have possibly chosen, the Duke of Ravenmoor was the last man she would have imagined. She could see her dreams of a love match, of marrying someone who truly knew her, crumbling like delicate glass.
"The Duke of Ravenmoor? You jest?" Emma questioned.
"I wish," Alice said.
Alice threw a stone into the pond, watching the water ripple and shimmer in the sunlight. She had left home that morning to promenade around the park with Lavinia and Emma, hoping the fresh air would ease her troubled thoughts. Yet, despite how much she loved the park or fancied a nice stroll, she couldn’t assuage her troubled heart. Alice had barely slept a wink the night before. She had never been so troubled by her father’s antics. This was different.
"I fear my papa is moving too fast. I would much rather hug the wall for the rest of the season than marry the duke," Alice said.
Although Alice hated the stigma that came with being called a wallflower, she could admit to herself that it did grant her a certain amount of solace. It wasn’t just an attempt to avoid interacting with the gentlemen of theton; Alicetruly loved the time spent with her only friends, Lavinia and Emma.
Lavinia was shy and introverted, often overshadowed by society’s standards of beauty. With her curvy figure, she didn’t fit the mold of the most fashionable young lady, and as such, she preferred the company of her beloved books to the noisy gatherings of the season, even though she was dragged to every single one by her mama.
