“I am one and twenty years old and I want to have a Season before thetondeclares me a spinster,” Mattie argued, her frustration bubbling over.
“You are hardly a spinster,” her father countered.
Mattie stood up from her seat, unable to contain her emotions any longer. “Young women are presented at Court as young as seven and ten years old. I am competing against people that are four years younger than me,” she exclaimed.
Her father leaned back in his seat and looked up at her. “There are plenty of widowers or older gentlemen that are looking for a mature young woman, such as yourself.”
Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Pardon?” How could her father have said something so insulting to her? Did he even know how hurtful it was to her?
He must have had some inkling that he had hurt her because his next words were much gentler. “Let us not argue about this,” he said calmly. “I am in no rush for you to wed, and you shouldn’t be either.”
A thought occurred to her, one that she hoped wasn’t true. “You don’t want me to get married, do you?”
Her father lifted his brow. “Of course I want you to marry, but in due time. I need your help with Emma.”
“This has always been about Emma, not me,” Mattie said sadly, the weight of realization pressing heavily on her shoulders. “Her needs—and her wants—will always come before mine.”
“Mattie…”
She walked over to the door and opened it. “You have been wrong to do so, Father,” she remarked before leaving the study, feeling both frustrated and resigned.
As she walked away, she heard her fatherlet out a deep sigh. The sound was heavy and filled with disappointment, causing Mattie’s heart to ache. She hoped he realized how unfair of a position he had placed her in. She was not her sister’s keeper, yet she was being forced to bear the responsibility. Yes, she had helped raise Emma, but that didn’t give her father the right to cast her aside.
Mattie headed out the cottage door and found herself walking towards Brockhall Manor. Her mind was in turmoil and she found herself needing a friend more than anything right now. Someone who would sympathize with her and offer comfort.
Brockhall Manor loomed in the distance when Isaac stepped out from behind a cluster of trees. Mattie glanced over her shoulder and saw Grady a short distance away, keeping a watchful eye over her. She felt grateful for his presence, and she felt safe from Isaac.
Isaac approached her but stopped short. “Your father was wrong to treat you in such a fashion,” he said, his words gentle and understanding.
“How exactly did you overhear my conversation?” she demanded.
“If you wanted the conversation to remain private, you should have closed the window,” Isaac chided.
Mattie rolled her eyes and continued walking towards Brockhall Manor. Isaac stayed behind her but continued to follow her across the field.
“Your father does not do you justice,” Isaac said. “You are far too beautiful to be forced into a marriage with a widower.”
“That is none of your concern,” Mattie replied sharply, speaking over her shoulder. She wasn’t about to have this conversation with Isaac, especially knowing what she knew about him.
Isaac didn’t seem deterred by her dismissive remarks. “If you were my daughter, I would have shown you off to everyone.”
“That is disturbing, and I would prefer it if you did not speak to me,” Mattie asserted.
Isaac came to a stop and shouted, “I have a proposition for you.”
“I am not interested in hearing what you have to say,” Mattie exclaimed as Brockhall Manor stood before her.
Mattie hurried towards the main door and knocked. The door was promptly opened and White greeted her. “Good afternoon, Miss Bawden,” he said, standing to the side. “Please come in.”
“Thank you,” Mattie acknowledged as she stepped into the grand entry hall. “I was hoping to speak to Lady Dallington.”
That was not entirely true, but she didn’t dare admit that she actually wished to talk to Winston. It was not proper for ladies to call upon gentlemen, no matter the reason.
However, it appeared that luck was on her side. Winston’s voice echoed through the corridor as he approached her. “What a pleasant surprise,” he said with a smile.
She offered him a brief smile in return. “I am here to call upon your mother.”
Again, with a lie. But she didn’t dare tell him the truth.
