I hope you have been well during your time in Hampshire. Your aunt has informed me that you have made the decision to accept my proposal, and that you will be returning by the end of the month. I wanted to write to you for confirmation before I begin reading the banns in church and making wedding preparations in earnest. As your guardian, I assume her word is as good as yours, but please do correct me if that is not the case. I look forward to your return, and to our many wonderful years together.
With affection,
Mr. Frampton
My hands shook as I scrambled for Aunt Ruth’s letter. I tore the seal in one swift motion.
Annette,
How dare you not tell me that Mr. Frampton proposed? How dare you leave him awaiting your answer? He is the most eligible and respectable man in Silton, and you are fortunate indeed that he has not changed his course during your absence.You have caused him great distress, and I will not stand for it. You have disgraced me long enough. Therefore, I have accepted his proposal on your behalf.
Make arrangements with the Kellaways to return to Silton by the end of July, or I will come fetch you myself. Do not expect that you will ever receive another offer, and do not expect me to be accommodating if you choose to refuse him. The proposal has become the gossip of Silton. I cannot bear the scrutiny, and Mr. Frampton does not deserve such mockery. My guardianship over your brothers remains, and if you do not come back and marry Mr. Frampton, I will be sure to keep Peter and Charles apart from you in the future by any means necessary.
Do not rely on the Mrs. Kellaway to prevent this. I have the legal power to send your brothers wherever I please. If I hear that you have confided in the Kellaways, or if you resist in any way, I shall not hesitate to separate the three of you for as long as my guardianship prevails.
I braced myself against the wall. My entire body was weak, drained, and empty. A pain so acute threaded through my chest until I couldn’t draw a single breath. How had Aunt Ruth found out? I had asked Mr. Frampton not to tell her. Had it been Edith? Had the maid overheard the proposal or somehow seen the contents of my letter to him?
I gritted my teeth against the sudden emotion in my throat. This decision was supposed to bemine. Yes, I had been determined to do the sensible thing, but now I no longer had a choice. My eyes burned with tears.
Peter stared up at me. “What does the letter say?”
“Nothing.” I quickly folded both, holding them tight enough to cause them to crumple in my grip. I blinked fast to dispel themoisture in my eyes. My heart ached under the weight of what was now required of me.
Aunt Ruth’s chilling implications flooded me with terror.
Her threats were not empty. They were real.
If I did not marry Mr. Frampton, she would surely send my brothers to the London orphanage. If I married someone else, she would surely do the same, or keep them with her at Oak Cottage.
I couldn’t place any hope on Mrs. Everard’s belief that Owen cared for me. No matter who I married, my snub of Mr. Frampton would cause Aunt Ruth to take her revenge on my brothers. There was nothing I could do to stop her.
The end of July was less than a week away. I only had days remaining at Kellaway Manor.
A pang of grief made my eyes sting again. I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to dispel the pain inside me. There was no reason to wait until the end of July. If I could make my escape tomorrow, I might be able to avoid being caught in the fake engagement.
I might never have to see Owen again.
My heart protested the thought, but I shushed it. Marrying Mr. Frampton had been the plan all along. The only reason I was so distraught was because of Owen. He had complicated my perfect plan, and made me resent something that could have made me happy. I rubbed my nose hard, fighting the tears that threatened to break loose. It was better this way. Owen had distracted me from my brothers enough already, so there could be no place in my heart for him.
I looked down at the letters in my hands. They served an important purpose. They reminded me of my place, dragging me out of my romantic reveries and dreams. They were a harsh snap of a whip against my back, and Aunt Ruth held the reins.
I stood frozen for a long moment, debating what to do. If I was leaving the next day, there would be no need to write back. I would have to ask the Kellaways for a carriage and coachman, and they would likely try hard to encourage me to stay. I would have to be firm.
My mind refused to calm itself, but I had to pretend that nothing was amiss for my brothers’ sake. After a footman brought us a pitcher of water, I walked my brothers up the staircase.
“When is Dr. Kellaway coming back?” Charles asked, taking a gulp from his cup.
“Probably soon.” My stomach gave a rather hard plunge at the thought.
“How soon? Will it be very soon?” Peter asked from a few paces ahead.
“I don’t know.”
They stared down at the floor with looks of disappointment.
“Did you enjoy spending time with him?” I asked.
Charles nodded up at me. A thoughtful look broke over his features. “It’s like having a papa, I think.”
