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Victoria wanted to know now. She didn’t like being kept in the dark. But she had a feeling her parents would tell her shortly. Following her mother into the morning room, Victoria sat on the settee as Lady Selkirk closed the door.
“How are you feeling, my dear? You’ve been in your room all afternoon. Harrison couldn’t get an answer out of you earlier.”
“I didn’t hear him.” Victoria smoothed her hands over her skirts. “I fell asleep. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
“You’ve been sleeping a lot recently.”
“A lot has happened lately.”
“I suppose.” Lady Selkirk sat on the settee beside her daughter. “Are you feeling any better?”
Victoria didn’t want to talk about how she was feeling. She was more concerned about what her father was up to.
“What are Father and Lord Blackmore talking about? I can’t see why he’s here.”
“He’s here to discuss you.”
“Me?”
The Viscountess sighed and reached for her daughter’s hand.
“Victoria, we love you, and we’re worried that you don’t have any prospects for marriage. With this…situation hanging over our heads, finding you a husband is very difficult. Sebastien Mowbray was prepared to marry you to unite our families.”
“But he’s dead now. Surely, that means the marriage is off.”
“He may be dead, but….”
Lady Selkirk’s voice died away. And Victoria felt the realisation sinking in her stomach. Even with the fire burning close by, she was beginning to feel cold.
“Oh, no. Mother, please, don’t….”
“Rafe Mowbray is the new Earl of Blackmore. And he’s unmarried. He’s said to your father that he’s willing to marry you instead of his brother.”
“No! No, Mother!” Victoria shot to her feet. She could feel the panic building. “I won’t! Not him!”
“Victoria….”
“Please don’t!” Victoria paced away. “I only reluctantly agreed to marry Sebastien, even when I protested against it. And now you’re expecting me to agree to marry that man?”
Lady Selkirk looked pained as she stood up.
“Victoria, it’s already….”
“No, it isn’t!” Victoria cut her off. “How could you even think this was a good idea? He killed Richard! Your son! Don’t you even care?”
“Of course, we care.”
“Clearly you don’t if you’re making me marry Richard’s killer!”
Lady Selkirk closed her eyes for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. Then she opened them.
“Victoria, please be mature about this. There are times when we don’t have a choice. And there’s also a possibility that Rafe Mowbray didn’t murder Richard.”
“What are you talking about? Of course, he did! Who else could it have been?” Victoria held up her hands. “This is going too far, Mother. You know this is too much. I won’t marry him.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to argue, Victoria.”
“What?”
