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Cassia thought of her sisters. They had been biddable and
meek when they were told to marry men they hardly knew.
They’d done their father’s bidding without question. Sofia was
as happy as she could be given that her husband had been
virtually a stranger when they married. She had a one-year-old
daughter who she adored, and Cassia privately thought that
Isobel was the source of all her sister’s happiness.
Anna was married a year after Sofia. Her husband was a
capo of a family allied with her father. Anna hated the man
because he was cruel and controlling. He didn’t care what she
wanted, didn’t expect her to have interests or actual emotions.
It was probably a blessing that Anna’s husband was often so
busy with his work.
Cassia wanted to speak, to show her father that she was
strong, but all she could do was nod. Her throat was closed up
so tight that it was impossible to swallow. Her mouth was
suddenly bone dry and she wished her father had offered her
some of his brandy. She could have used the fortifying warmth
the drink would have given.
“You will marry Vincent. Next month. It’s all been arranged.
He’s the son of our enemy, that much is true, but that’s all the
more reason we need this marriage. It will bring our families
together. Ensure peace. Bring about many new business
prospects.”
Cassia stared blankly at her father. At the man who was
supposed to love and nurture and protect her. She was only
nineteen. There were so many things she wanted to do with
her life. Now it was clear why her father had never talked to
her about college after her graduation less than a year ago
from the private school she and her sisters had all attended. He
