She knocked on her father’s study door and waited for a response, her eyes coming to rest on her mother’s face.
She could see why Dietrich had found them similar.
“Come in, dear,” her father’s voice said, surprisingly close.
Ella startled, realizing she’d been so distracted thinking about Dietrich that she hadn’t heard her father open the door. Her cheeks flushed as he glanced down the hallway where Dietrich had disappeared. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn there was a twinkle in his eye as he said, “I have something important to discuss with you.”
She followed him into the study and settled into a chair by the fire, which was small, but it lent the room a cozy air.
“This may sound alarming, but we’ll make sure everything works out,” he said, sitting next to her and reaching out to take her hands in his.
Ella’s heart began to race. Alarming?
“You are technically betrothed,” he said.
Her breath caught, and she barely managed to choke out, “Betrothed?”
She was betrothed? And why was he only telling her this now?
Her father sighed. “I’ve spent the past week reviewing the contracts, and it appears the agreement is still in effect despite your disappearance—unless his family has broken it already.”
She didn’t have words to speak. What was she supposed to say?
“I know it’s a lot,” her father said, squeezing her hands. “Don’t worry.”
“I don’t want to be betrothed,” she said quietly.
“I understand. It was never the plan for you to find out this way. The two of you were supposed to grow up together, and we always agreed to break the arrangement if either of you didn’t want it. But given the circumstances, I don’t know the current state of things. I wanted you to be aware before we send out the news that you’ve been found.”
Ella’s mind raced. “But what does this mean for me?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” her father admitted. “I will write to them, but until we hear back, everything is uncertain.”
“Why was I betrothed in the first place?” Ella asked. “How old was I when this was arranged?”
“You have to understand,” her father explained, “things work a little differently among the nobility. When you were young, we made the agreement to protect both of you. Among the aristocracy, people are always trying to position their children for power. Arranging a betrothal meant you were ‘off the market’ and safe from fortune-seekers. The plan was for you to spend time together, get to know one another, and decide if you wanted to keep the arrangement or break it.”
Her father chuckled softly. “Since you’ve been gone, you obviously haven’t had that chance. I understand why you would be hesitant to remain engaged to a young man you don’t know.”
“Do you know him?” Ella asked. “Or did your friendship with his family also end when I disappeared?”
Her father gave her a rueful smile. “We don’t know each other as well as we should. That’s something we’ll need to address. I plan to invite them to visit so you can meet him and decide what you want to do.”
Ella frowned. “I want to break it off.” She didn’t want to be betrothed.
Her father chuckled. “I understand, but we must wait to hear from them. I believe they’ll want the two of you to meet first.”
“What if I don’t wish to meet him?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t force you,” her father reassured her. “But I hope you’ll give it a chance. When you were a child, I arranged this match because I believed he was a good boy who would care for you and benefit you.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t want to bias your opinion of him before you meet,” her father said. “His title isn’t what matters—it’s how you feel about him. That’s what’s important.”
Ella sighed. “Fine. I’ll meet him,” she said reluctantly.
It wasn’t as though Dietrich wanted her. She might as well meet this mysterious betrothed and see what he was like. Perhaps he wouldn’t be so bad. Perhaps she’d even find someone she didn’t hate nearly as much as she currently hated Dietrich for turning his back on her.
