“Then say it.” Henry made a sweeping gesture with his hands. “Here is your time. Please say everything that you wish to say. Fill me in on your genius plan. Because I can only assume that you have a suggestion, if you are willing to throw all of my hard work away.”
Unfortunately, that was something that Verity could not do.
She did not have a response to this because of course she had no plan. There was no other gentleman that she could suggest that would please her brother, and at this point, not getting married was simply not an option.
The silence hung heavy in the air with Henry’s angry gaze piercing right through Verity. She had never seen his face so red with anger before.
“Remember yourself, Verity. Remember that the consequences of your actions will affect all of us. If you don’t have a spotless reputation, then none of us do.”
Verity’s heart was heavy and her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She could not stand the pressure weighing down on her any longer.
“Henry, it’s impossible to live a life dictated entirely by fear of society’s opinion,” Verity argued, her voice trembling but resolute. “Do you not see the cruelty of it? Must we sacrifice our personal happiness for a façade? Can we not change things?”
“You are being naive, Verity,” Henry retorted, his eyes flashing with impatience. “This is the reality we live in. Our family's honor is not something to be trifled with. Your actions have consequences beyond your own whims and desires. That is why I am calling you selfish.”
“So, I am expected to endure a loveless, joyless existence just to maintain our family’s standing? Is that truly what you want for me?”
“I want you to understand the gravity of our situation. Lord Philip is not a suitable match. You cannot expect an marquess to marry you. It’s madness.”
Elizabeth tried once more to intercede; her voice gentle but firm. “Henry, please, let us consider Verity’s feelings. There must be a way to balance duty with personal happiness.”
But Henry was unmoved. “Mother, we cannot afford to be lenient. The ton is unforgiving. One misstep, and our family’s name could be tarnished irreparably. Verity, you must understand this. You do understand this, I know you do.”
“I do understand,” Verity replied, her voice quieter now, the fire in her eyes undimmed. “But what you fail to grasp is that I have needs and dreams of my own. I refuse to be a pawn in your game of societal chess. Especially if that involves that disgusting Lord Aldford.”
Henry’s face contorted with anger. “You speak as if you are the only one who suffers under these constraints. We all bear this burden, Verity. We all make sacrifices.”
“Yes, but you expect me to make the greatest sacrifice of all,” she shot back. “You expect me to surrender my chance at happiness for the sake of appearances.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick and oppressive. Henry’s harsh breathing was the only sound, his gaze locked on to Verity with an intensity that made her feel exposed and vulnerable.
She met his stare with defiance, refusing to back down.
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears, her heart breaking for her children. “There must be a way to resolve this without tearing our family apart,” she pleaded. “Can we not find a compromise?”
Henry’s jaw tightened. “There can be no compromise where our reputation is concerned. Verity must understand her duty.”
Verity shook her head, her resolve hardening. “I cannot do this. I will not.”
Henry’s face turned a deeper shade of red, his fists clenched in frustration. “If you continue down this path, Verity, you will destroy us all. Mark my words.”
Verity could not take this any longer. She rose to her feet and glanced her eyes around at everyone. “Please, excuse me.”
As she walked away from the table, her heart was absolutely racing.
Verity quickly realized that moving away from the table wasn’t enough. She also needed to get away from the house, and there was only one place she could go. To see her cousin.
“Louisa, please request that the carriage is readied,” she said quietly. “I am going to see Faye.”
Louisa nodded just the once and went to sort the carriage out for Verity. While she waited, she sighed heavily to herself and leant against the wall to steady herself.
Everything felt wrong, her whole life was a mess, and she truly could not see a way out. The last thing she wanted was to end up married to Ambrose, but at this point she could not see any other way out. There was no one else that she could marry, even if there was someone, she had in the back of her mind…
Not that she wanted to think about Philip right now.
Nothing good could come from thinking about Philip because even looking his way caused a scandal. It did not matter what was in her heart, there were far too many rules in place. Henry was right about that much.
Verity’s mind whirled with thoughts as she eventually climbed into the carriage, the tension of the argument still clinging to her. The ride to her cousin Faye’s estate provided abrief respite, allowing her to breathe and gather her scattered emotions.
