Anette blinked. “Surely you can’t be serious?”
Her father put his hand up. “Hear me out before you reject the notion,” he said. “I think it would be best if you wed, and quickly.”
“Do you wish to get rid of me?” Anette asked.
“Heavens, no! But I won’t always be around and you will need the protection of your husband’s name.”
“You are still young,” Anette attempted.
“I am old and I just want to ensure you will always be taken care of,” her father said. “Life can be cruel to women who aren’t wed. I cannot abide the thought of anything bad happening to you.”
“I shall take my chances. I don’t want to enter a marriage of convenience and endure a lifetime of misery,” Anette stated.
“You could develop real affection for your husband,” her father remarked.
Anette turned towards her mother and asked, “You don’t think I should marry a stranger, do you?”
Her mother pursed her lips. “Your father does make a good argument. All we want for you is to be taken care of, and it doesn’t have to be a stranger. There are many gentlemen that you are acquainted with that would make fine suitors.”
“What about love?” Anette asked, her voice rising. “Or am I just supposed to give up on that notion?”
Her father rose from his seat. “Right now, I am more concerned with your future than love. Your mother and I will discuss this but I think it is best if you resign yourself to the idea.”
“No, I will never agree to a marriage of convenience,” Anette asserted before she stormed out of the study.
What were her parents thinking? She had no desire to enter a loveless marriage just for the sake of security. Her heart already belonged to Roswell so she had nothing to offer another gentleman. She had already decided she would marry only Roswell or not get married at all. It didn’t matter that he didn’t want her. She had accepted that long ago.
As she stepped into the entry hall, the main door opened and the object of her desire stepped into the townhouse with Caleb.
Roswell’s eyes landed on her and asked, “What is wrong?”
She should have assumed that he could see right through her. She might as well just tell him the truth. “My father is impossible,” she announced. “He wants to arrange a marriage for me.”
He visibly stiffened. “What? Why?” he asked.
“He wants me to marry quickly and have the protection of my husband’s name,” Anette said.
Caleb spoke up as he came to stand by her. “Did he explain why this was?”
Anette placed a hand on her hip. “He tried to, but I told him I am not interested in a marriage of convenience,” she replied. “What is worse is that Mother had the nerve to agree with him.”
“We already know that Mother won’t be happy until we both are wed,” Caleb attempted. “But I wouldn’t concern yourself with it. I doubt they will see this through.”
“Can I chance it?” Anette asked.
Caleb placed a hand on her sleeve and said, “Do not worry yourself unnecessarily. I will go speak to them and get this resolved.”
“Will you go now?”
“Very well,” Caleb said, dropping his hand. “I will be back shortly.”
As her brother headed towards the study, Roswell asked, “Why do you suppose your father came up with this madcap plan to get you a husband, especially now?”
“I don’t know what he was thinking. I refuse to marry a man that I don’t love,” Anette stated.
Roswell took a step closer to her. “You deserve to be loved, Anette. I hope you know that.”
Anette stared up at him and wondered why he couldn’t love her as much as she loved him. Quite frankly, she had loved him for so long now that she forgot what it was likenotto love him.
