The wedding to Lord Redfield, a man old enough to be her grandfather.
She looked at the trunk. It was already almost full. Whatever gown she brought would be wrinkled, and she couldn’t bring her lady’s maid with her to iron it. She wouldn’t even look beautiful on her wedding day, as she’d have no one to do her hair.
Her wedding day… Hersecondwedding day.
It all hit her then so hard that she almost burst into tears.
I am going to marry a man I despise! I will be trapped into a life with him, forced to bear children for him…
She looked up at her sister and was surprised to see that her eyes were also filled with tears.
“Oh, darling, don’t cry,” she said, moving forward and wrapping Rosalie in a tight hug. “All will be well, I promise.”
“I just thought you and the Duke would work things out,” her sister whispered into her shoulder. “You seemed so in love, especially when he brought you the puppy.”
“I know, darling, but life is not always fair or kind, and just because there is love doesn’t mean that a relationship can work.”
“But… will you seek an annulment?”
Violet hesitated, but it was best that her sister knew this at least. “Yes,” she said at last. “We have already signed the papers.”
Rosalie gasped. “Violet! But that is unheard of! You will be ostracized.”
“I don’t care,” Violet lied. “The important thing is that I will be free to lead my own life.”
She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep lying, so she went to the wardrobe, pulled it open, and grabbed the first gown that she saw then a pair of slippers. She didn’t even check to see if they matched.
What does it matter what I look like on my wedding day anyway?
Then she threw the gown and slippers into the trunk, slammed it shut, and locked it. When she was done, she stood up and looked her sister dead in the eye.
“I need you to promise me something, Rosalie,” she began, her tone very serious.
“A-anything,” Rosalie stammered, her eyes wide.
“I need you to promise me that you’ll marry a kind man. A good man. Someone you know deeply and trust with your whole heart. Someone who will not lie to you or trick you. And this is the most important part, Rosalie. Marry a strong man, someone who can stand up to Father and keep you safe.”
“Why are you speaking like this?” Rosalie whispered. “You’re speaking as if you are going away for a very long time.”
“I might have to,” Violet murmured. “The annulment will cause a scandal, and it is less likely to affect your marriage prospects if you are not seen with me.”
“I do not think Mr. Cain will care about that,” Rosalie said, tossing her head. “His feelings for me are strong and genuine.”
Violet knew that she should say nothing, that to react could give away the whole game. But she couldn’t help herself. She seized her sister’s wrist, harder than she meant to, and pulled her close.
“You must promise me you will never see that man again,” she snarled. “He is a snake, Rosalie, and he will only cause you pain. You must promise me!”
“But—”
“Promise me!”
Rosalie’s mouth fell open in surprise and horror, and even Violet shuddered. She’d heard it too—at that moment, she sounded exactly like their father.
“I promise,” her sister whispered.
Violet dropped her hand, and Rosalie rubbed it at once. Violet regretted squeezing it so tightly, but she would rather die than see Rosalie marry that foul, manipulative traitor.
“I must go,” she said.
