eating out of his hand.”
Her
father had only responded by saying, “You shouldn’t be eavesdropping,
Chastity. It’s not any of your
business.”
“Not
my business? They were talking
about me!”
“I’m
certain you misunderstood.”
“I’m
certain I did not,” I argued indignantly.
“Although you and
your brother seem to be trying very hard, you have not yet ruined our family
name so badly that we are shunned by society. But you have absolutely succeeded in making yourself a
horrible match as a wife. Men believe
that you are bull-headed, strong-willed, and disobedient at best. Some have been known to say that you
are the worst possible example of an English lady. Your mother has even heard people claim that you are not all
together right in the head. So if Stockton is willing to marry you, then you will marry him without
another word to the contrary.” He
had picked up his plate and turned from his eldest daughter.
“I
won’t marry him, Father,” she had muttered.
He had stopped just short of the doorway, but he did not turn to face her. His voice had been quiet and cold. “The wedding is scheduled for the 12 th of September. We have arranged for
a suitable dowry. As long as you
do as we’ve instructed and marry him, the two of you will live comfortably long
after your mother and I are dead. If you refuse, come the 12 th of September, you will be on
your own. You will no longer be
welcome in our home, and you will no longer be our daughter.”
Although
his threats had hardly been as violent and hateful as Lord Capulet’s to Juliet,
Chastity knew they were no less sincere.
Putting thoughts of their
betrayal behind her, she smiled at Elisabeth. “They were mortified,” she laughed lightly. “They were ashamed of me. They were especially disappointed that I didn’t have a single suitor
come courting after the last season.”
“Were
you disappointed?” she asked with a grin, already knowing the answer.
“Marriage
is just one more method of control,” Chase answered carefully. “It’s just a ceremony where your father
hands your life and body over to another man. I felt that if I could keep from getting married, my father
would one day allow me to control my own life.”
“So
it is true!” she gasped to herself.
“What’s
that?” Chase asked, curious about what she’d heard.
“My
brother danced with you at a ball that first season. He told me that you insulted him and treated him like a
child,” she whispered this last word. “He was so humiliated.”
Chastity
was actually embarrassed to remember how rudely she had behaved to those well-meaning
gentlemen last year. “I’m sorry
for what I said to your brother,” she apologized.
“Don’t
be,” she laughed. “He’s such an
egotistical fop. For months,
whenever he did something to anger me, I would remember your insults and laugh
all over again. He truly deserved
every word you said to him.”
“What
about you? Why are you here with
your cousin? And why is your
family still in England while you’re here in America?”
“I’m
sure you’ve heard.”
Chase stared blankly at her,
not daring to confirm or deny her suggestion. She wanted to avoid offending her or hurting her by revealing
the talk of the ton. She decided
to allow her to tell her own story.
She continued on after a
long sigh. “The future Earl of
Cardiff began courting me. William
Bradford is his name. He was so
handsome and charming. And I was
so young and foolish. My parents
were
Her
father had only responded by saying, “You shouldn’t be eavesdropping,
Chastity. It’s not any of your
business.”
“Not
my business? They were talking
about me!”
“I’m
certain you misunderstood.”
“I’m
certain I did not,” I argued indignantly.
“Although you and
your brother seem to be trying very hard, you have not yet ruined our family
name so badly that we are shunned by society. But you have absolutely succeeded in making yourself a
horrible match as a wife. Men believe
that you are bull-headed, strong-willed, and disobedient at best. Some have been known to say that you
are the worst possible example of an English lady. Your mother has even heard people claim that you are not all
together right in the head. So if Stockton is willing to marry you, then you will marry him without
another word to the contrary.” He
had picked up his plate and turned from his eldest daughter.
“I
won’t marry him, Father,” she had muttered.
He had stopped just short of the doorway, but he did not turn to face her. His voice had been quiet and cold. “The wedding is scheduled for the 12 th of September. We have arranged for
a suitable dowry. As long as you
do as we’ve instructed and marry him, the two of you will live comfortably long
after your mother and I are dead. If you refuse, come the 12 th of September, you will be on
your own. You will no longer be
welcome in our home, and you will no longer be our daughter.”
Although
his threats had hardly been as violent and hateful as Lord Capulet’s to Juliet,
Chastity knew they were no less sincere.
Putting thoughts of their
betrayal behind her, she smiled at Elisabeth. “They were mortified,” she laughed lightly. “They were ashamed of me. They were especially disappointed that I didn’t have a single suitor
come courting after the last season.”
“Were
you disappointed?” she asked with a grin, already knowing the answer.
“Marriage
is just one more method of control,” Chase answered carefully. “It’s just a ceremony where your father
hands your life and body over to another man. I felt that if I could keep from getting married, my father
would one day allow me to control my own life.”
“So
it is true!” she gasped to herself.
“What’s
that?” Chase asked, curious about what she’d heard.
“My
brother danced with you at a ball that first season. He told me that you insulted him and treated him like a
child,” she whispered this last word. “He was so humiliated.”
Chastity
was actually embarrassed to remember how rudely she had behaved to those well-meaning
gentlemen last year. “I’m sorry
for what I said to your brother,” she apologized.
“Don’t
be,” she laughed. “He’s such an
egotistical fop. For months,
whenever he did something to anger me, I would remember your insults and laugh
all over again. He truly deserved
every word you said to him.”
“What
about you? Why are you here with
your cousin? And why is your
family still in England while you’re here in America?”
“I’m
sure you’ve heard.”
Chase stared blankly at her,
not daring to confirm or deny her suggestion. She wanted to avoid offending her or hurting her by revealing
the talk of the ton. She decided
to allow her to tell her own story.
She continued on after a
long sigh. “The future Earl of
Cardiff began courting me. William
Bradford is his name. He was so
handsome and charming. And I was
so young and foolish. My parents
were
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