She pushed her shoulders back and moved to the door. It opened and revealed her father’s butler, Maxwell. The man took her wrap with only a sniff of disapproval. She ignored it and trudged toward the stairs. It was very late, too late for the hot bath she longed for. But she could at least curl up in her bed and try to sleep away this long and confusing night.
She was almost to the stairs at the opposite end of the foyer when she heard the sound of a clearing throat from the closest parlor. She froze and turned to find her father standing there, a drink in hand, staring at her.
“Father,” she began, trying to think of some excuse for why she was coming into the house alone at such a late hour. She could think of none, so she simply sighed. “I thought you were spending a late evening with some of your associates at the club.”
“I can see you did,” he said with a shake of his head. “What have you been up to, girlie?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. Her entire life had been spent placating this man, soothing his upsets and angers, protecting her sisters from his wrath when it was incurred. Making things easier for them all. Tonight she could not find the energy for those machinations.
“I find I am not in the mood to talk, Father,” she said. “Please just let me go to bed and we can discuss it in the morning.”
His grip on his drink tightened and his scowl deepened. “Come into the parlor, Anne.”
She glared at him. “Juliana,” she corrected. “You would think you’d know me since I am the only daughter left under your care.”
“I simply mixed up your names,” her father said with a wave of his free hand. “Come into the parlor…now.”
She clenched her fists at her sides and marched past him into the room. Her heart was throbbing in anticipation for the showdown she feared would come, but she fought to keep that reaction from her face. She had to be more like Ellis. Not show weakness.
Not show anything. Did he feel anything at all?
“Juliana!”
Her father’s sharp tone yanked her back to the room and she frowned at him. “Yes?”
“I asked you a question. Where were you?”
She shrugged. “I went out to see a…a friend in need.”
The words seemed foolish as she said them, and it was clear her father didn’t believe her as he slowly shook his head. He downed the remainder of his drink in one swig before he said, “I don’t know what is wrong with you, Juliana. I can only imagine what trouble you were getting yourself in to. But you must not get ideas in your head. Your future is…” He trailed off and the heat seemed to go out of him as he turned away.
Her lips parted. Was thatpityin his expression? Her heart ached. “What is my future, Father? Say it.”
He poured himself another drink before he faced her again. “It is set now. We both know that. But you needn’t fear. You will be a great help to me and that will provide meaning to your life. You’ll always have a place here, as long as you behave in a way that allows me to offer it.”
Her breath caught and her throat felt like it was closing as she stared at him. He’d talked about her being his secretary several times since the attack on her. Mused that he hadn’t lost much because she was so good at managing his household. He was always hushed by her sisters when he brought it up.
Now they were alone and she saw the full truth of it. He wanted what he wanted, saw the situation in only his own terms, but that was nothing new. Their father had always been desperately selfish.
What was different is that he now sawheras pitiable. This was a bone he threw to what he perceived to be an injured dog. The best she could expect given the scandals her sisters had created, given the mark on her face and her character. She was broken in his eyes and he was trying to find some altered use for her.
“Father—” she gasped out.
“Do not reach too high, daughter,” he grunted. “Or there will only be further to fall.”
Anger she rarely allowed herself rose up in her chest as she gaped at this man. How many times had she considered his comfort above her own?
“Like you have, you mean,” she snapped out, and then clapped a hand over her mouth. She had never spoken to him in that fashion, and for a moment they just stared at each other.
Then his face twisted in rage, going purple as he set his drink down with a loud clink. “One of my daughters married an earl,” he growled. “I choose to focus on that success rather than my useless second son-in-law.”
“Who Anne loves,” Juliana argued, and she realized she was nearly shouting now. “And is as kind a man as any I have ever met.”
“Perhaps,” her father said with a dismissive shrug. “Perhaps his underground links will play out as useful to me at some point. But I can’t focus on him or onyourfailings.”
“Because I shall never marry. No one could want me now, at least in your eyes.”
“No one of value. Do you disagree?” he scoffed. “It is a shame, really. You were my true prize. I thought I would leverage you for much more than either of your sisters. But what is done is done. I have decided it is best to remain kind to you.”
