The thought of being tied to him forever in marriage filled her with a sense of suffocating dread.
“No,” Verity whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of panic in her mind. She forced herself to stand, her legs trembling. “Henry, you cannot be serious.”
Henry’s eyes hardened. “This is for the best, Verity. You need stability, and Lord Aldford can provide that.”
“Stability?” she echoed, incredulous. “You mean I need to be sold off to the highest bidder?”
Elizabeth shot her a warning glance, but Verity was beyond caring. She turned to Ambrose, who was leering at her with a smug joy. The sight of him made her stomach churn.
“You don’t have to worry, Verity,” Ambrose slurred, standing up and swaying slightly. “I will take very good care of you.”
“I would rather die than marry you,” she spat, her voice filled with venom.
Henry stepped forward; his face flushed with anger. “You will do as you are told, Verity. This family needs this alliance.”
Verity’s chest heaved with indignation.
She looked from her brother to her mother, seeking some form of support, but Elizabeth merely averted her gaze. Verity felt a wave of betrayal crash over her. She had no allies in this room, no one to save her from this fate.
Taking a deep breath, Verity made a decision.
“I will not marry him,” she declared, her voice steady and defiant. “I would rather live in disgrace than be bound to such a man.”
Henry’s expression darkened. “You have no choice in this matter. The arrangements are already made.”
Before anyone could react, Verity turned on her heel and fled the room. She could hear Henry’s angry shouts behind her, but she did not stop. She needed to get away, to clear her mind and figure out what to do next. Whatever she decided on, it would not be marrying him.
Henry could call her selfish, he could hate her forever. She could not do it, she would not.
It wasn’t fair.
Verity ran through the corridors of her home, her heart pounding in her chest. The walls seemed to close in on her, and she felt like she could hardly breathe.
She reached the front door, flinging it open and stepping in to the cool evening air. It was only then that she allowed herself to slow down, her mind racing as she tried to figure out her next move.
She had no intention of being forced into a marriage with Ambrose, a man she detested. The very thought made her skin crawl.
But where could she go?
Who could she turn to?
How could she escape what her brother wanted for her?
Verity stood at the threshold, the cool evening air doing little to calm the storm raging within her. The world outside seemed vast and indifferent, and she realized she had nowhere to go. Running away felt like an option, but it was a temporary one. Eventually, she would be found and dragged back, bound by the chains of duty and family expectations.
Cedric had been ripped away from her, he had been allowed to follow his heart to wherever he wanted to go, but she could not. If she did not have to rely on Henry, then she would have much preferred to spend her life as a spinster, with no husband. Anything was better than being trapped in a horrible life, living with a man who disgusted her and his daughters, who despised her.
With nowhere to run, all she could do was turn around and quietly retreat to the solitude of her chamber. She closed the door behind her, the familiar surroundings offering a small measure of comfort. Yet, the looming threat of her impendingmarriage to Ambrose hung over her like a dark cloud, and she knew she could not stay hidden in her room forever.
Verity’s musings were interrupted by a soft knock on her door. She tensed, half expecting it to be her brother coming to berate her further. But when the door creaked open, it was Louisa who entered, her expression full of concern.
“Lady Sinclair,” Louisa said gently, closing the door behind her. “I have a letter for you. It just arrived.”
“A letter?” Verity asked, her curiosity piqued. “From whom?”
“I am not sure, my lady,” Louisa replied, holding out the envelope. “But it seems urgent.”
Verity took the letter, noting the unfamiliar handwriting. She broke the seal and unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the contents quickly.
