Bentley, no matter what it takes.”
“I’m afraid father will be wrathful once ye are gone. I’ll have to hide.”
“I promise to come back and take you away. I cannot take ye with me right off because I might encounter danger. Father will be wrathful, but if you’re not with me, he mightn’t harm you. Promise me, if he strikes ye, leave here and find safety. Go to Aunty’s.”
“Aye, I promise. ‘Tis better that you leave and return for me later,” Laila agreed.
“You are so brave, Laila.”
“I will do anything to help ye, Julianna, even if it means sitting on that fiend, Edwena. I should go before she searches for me. She doesn’t know I’m out here.”
Julianna waved to her sister as she walked inside the manor. Shortly after, she followed and stopped short when she entered the kitchens. Cook was yelling at a poor servant who had dropped a tray of sweetmeats. Food scattered over the floor and the girl was crying. The young kitchen help was always harangued for one thing or another. Neither noticed her slip by, because they were too engrossed over the poor girl’s mishap.
She snuck up the back stairs and ran into her stepmother. Edwena grasped her arm with vigor as she balanced laundry on her other arm.
“Will ye watch where you’re going? I’m tired of looking for ye. Where do ye sneak off to? Nay, don’t answer. We’ve no time for excuses. Your father has the servants looking for ye. He awaits ye in his office.” She continued down the steps.
Julianna wondered what her father wanted. He hadn’t spoken to her in weeks, and barely greeted her when she had returned. She was thankful for that, but what if he’d arranged a marriage?
“He couldn’t have found a husband so soon.” She settled on that issue and hastily walked to his office, knocking lightly, and hoping he wouldn’t answer. His voice sounded, calling for her to enter. She approached his desk, where he looked up from his parchment and nodded to the chair.
“Sit.” He finished his conversation with his steward and handed him the parchment before turning to her. With a look of loathsome, he all but sneered.
Julianna’s stomach fluttered as she watched the steward leave. The prospect of being alone with her father sent chills through her. A sick feeling overcame her, and she found it difficult to breathe. Breathe, breathe .
Lord Bentley couldn’t stand the sight of her. She felt the same as he did. He should have sent her to his sister-in-law’s holding. Aunty, at least, cared for her. Julianna knew her father didn’t want her stirring his household, what with his wife doing enough medaling.
“Finally, here you are. Where do ye hide? I’ve been waiting for you and can finally share my good news.” He loomed over her and didn’t seem to expect answer to his questions. “Your quiet demeanor doesn’t fool me. Underneath, you’re like your mother. She was quite courageous.”
Was her father giving her mother a compliment? His tone didn’t imply such. “I took a walk in the garden. I didn’t know you expected me, my lord. What is this good news? Shall I travel to Aunty’s?” She hoped so.
“I found ye a husband. He’s known to be abrasive, but it’s what you deserve. I convinced him to marry ye, even though you’re unworthy.”
Julianna tried to remain unconcerned, but was scared to her toes. Breathe , she reminded herself again.
“You’re to marry and will journey to his keep in three days. It shouldn’t take more than five days travel then you’ll finally wed. I made the contract and he’s accepted. Go and prepare.”
Disbelieving what she’d heard, she told herself to remain calm. “Marry who, my lord?”
Her father leaned close and slapped her cheek. She rose from her seat, trying to avoid the next strike, but it wasn’t to be. She felt her head tilt from his second slap. Falling back against the chair, she cried out when he kicked the wooden leg. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he yelled,
“I’m afraid father will be wrathful once ye are gone. I’ll have to hide.”
“I promise to come back and take you away. I cannot take ye with me right off because I might encounter danger. Father will be wrathful, but if you’re not with me, he mightn’t harm you. Promise me, if he strikes ye, leave here and find safety. Go to Aunty’s.”
“Aye, I promise. ‘Tis better that you leave and return for me later,” Laila agreed.
“You are so brave, Laila.”
“I will do anything to help ye, Julianna, even if it means sitting on that fiend, Edwena. I should go before she searches for me. She doesn’t know I’m out here.”
Julianna waved to her sister as she walked inside the manor. Shortly after, she followed and stopped short when she entered the kitchens. Cook was yelling at a poor servant who had dropped a tray of sweetmeats. Food scattered over the floor and the girl was crying. The young kitchen help was always harangued for one thing or another. Neither noticed her slip by, because they were too engrossed over the poor girl’s mishap.
She snuck up the back stairs and ran into her stepmother. Edwena grasped her arm with vigor as she balanced laundry on her other arm.
“Will ye watch where you’re going? I’m tired of looking for ye. Where do ye sneak off to? Nay, don’t answer. We’ve no time for excuses. Your father has the servants looking for ye. He awaits ye in his office.” She continued down the steps.
Julianna wondered what her father wanted. He hadn’t spoken to her in weeks, and barely greeted her when she had returned. She was thankful for that, but what if he’d arranged a marriage?
“He couldn’t have found a husband so soon.” She settled on that issue and hastily walked to his office, knocking lightly, and hoping he wouldn’t answer. His voice sounded, calling for her to enter. She approached his desk, where he looked up from his parchment and nodded to the chair.
“Sit.” He finished his conversation with his steward and handed him the parchment before turning to her. With a look of loathsome, he all but sneered.
Julianna’s stomach fluttered as she watched the steward leave. The prospect of being alone with her father sent chills through her. A sick feeling overcame her, and she found it difficult to breathe. Breathe, breathe .
Lord Bentley couldn’t stand the sight of her. She felt the same as he did. He should have sent her to his sister-in-law’s holding. Aunty, at least, cared for her. Julianna knew her father didn’t want her stirring his household, what with his wife doing enough medaling.
“Finally, here you are. Where do ye hide? I’ve been waiting for you and can finally share my good news.” He loomed over her and didn’t seem to expect answer to his questions. “Your quiet demeanor doesn’t fool me. Underneath, you’re like your mother. She was quite courageous.”
Was her father giving her mother a compliment? His tone didn’t imply such. “I took a walk in the garden. I didn’t know you expected me, my lord. What is this good news? Shall I travel to Aunty’s?” She hoped so.
“I found ye a husband. He’s known to be abrasive, but it’s what you deserve. I convinced him to marry ye, even though you’re unworthy.”
Julianna tried to remain unconcerned, but was scared to her toes. Breathe , she reminded herself again.
“You’re to marry and will journey to his keep in three days. It shouldn’t take more than five days travel then you’ll finally wed. I made the contract and he’s accepted. Go and prepare.”
Disbelieving what she’d heard, she told herself to remain calm. “Marry who, my lord?”
Her father leaned close and slapped her cheek. She rose from her seat, trying to avoid the next strike, but it wasn’t to be. She felt her head tilt from his second slap. Falling back against the chair, she cried out when he kicked the wooden leg. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he yelled,
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