Simone reared back, not quite believing her father’s words. “You are disowning me?”
Her father uncrossed his arms. “What choice do I have?” he asked. “You act the part of a wallflower, but you are truly a hoyden.”
Before she could respond, Juliette appeared at the bottom of the stairs and said, “I apologize for interrupting but perhaps we should continue this conversation in the privacy of your study. The servants are anxious to return to their tasks.”
Her father bobbed his head. “I think that is a fine idea. There is much more that needs to be discussed,” he said. “Follow me, Simone.”
Keeping her head low, she followed her father up the servants’ stairs to the main level and into the study.
Once they arrived, Juliette entered the room and closed the door behind her. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” she admitted. “But I do not think disowning Simone is the right thing to do.”
Her father’s face softened, just slightly, as he turned his attention towards Juliette. “And why is that?”
“What would she do?” Juliette asked.
“She has an inheritance from her grandmother that she could live on,” her father said. “It is not as if she would be left destitute.”
Juliette shifted her gaze towards Simone. “I think the best option is for you to marry, and quickly.”
“No, I won’t do it,” Simone said.
“Think of your future,” Juliette urged.
“I am, and that is why I refuse to be tied down to a man that I don’t love,” Simone pressed.
Her father huffed. “Not this again,” he declared. “Love has no place in a marriage. It is a pure fantasy on your part.”
Juliette’s eyes feigned compassion. “Listen to your father,” she said. “He knows what is best for you.”
“Does he?” Simone asked. Why was Juliette even here, attempting to help her? She didn’t need or want her help.
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your tone, Child,” he stated.
“I am not a child anymore,” Simone retorted.
“You are acting like one,” her father said. “Everything I have done has been for you. Yet you are too ungrateful to see that.”
Simone knew that she should bite her tongue, and to consider her next words carefully, but she was angry. “What have you done for me?” she demanded. “You ignore me for days on end, and when we speak, it is usually in passing.”
Juliette interjected, “You are not being fair to your father. He is an important man and he has work that he needs to see to.”
“Precisely,” her father said. “You do not understand the pressures that I am up against.”
Simone resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Juliette was good. She would give her that. If she wasn’t a spy, she could have had a career in the theatre.
Her father walked over to the drink cart and poured himself a drink. “So we are decided, then?” he asked. “You will marry a man of my choosing or you will leave this townhouse at once.”
Juliette walked over to her father and placed a hand on his sleeve. “It might be best to give Simone some time to think on such an important decision. You don’t want to do anything that you might come to regret later.”
Her father took a sip of his drink before lowering it to his side. “Fine. I will give her three days to allow her to carefully consider her options.”
“That is very generous of you,” Juliette said. “Isn’t it, Simone?”
Simone frowned. “It is,” she replied. Why was Juliette trying so hard to help her, when it was her fault that she was in this situation? What game was she playing?
Her father walked over to his desk and sat down on the chair. “Bring me your men’s clothing so I can burn them, and I do not want you to leave this townhouse without my approval. Do we understand one another?”
Simone took a step closer to the desk as she tried to plead her case. “But I use the trousers on occasion to ride my horse.”
