“You do know that I do not sleep?”
Rosalind gave him a stern look that reminded him of their mother. “Well, tonight you shall sleep peacefully! I am certain of it.”
He nodded in agreement, though his chest felt tight. “I shall sleep as peacefully as the sun does tonight.”
Or at least he hoped he would.
CHAPTER 27
Final Hypothesis: Romantic love is a sequence of biological impulses, cognitive distortions, and territorial instincts. The illusion of “depth” arises only when the Subject is skilled enough to manipulate these responses.
Love is a delusion.
“You will not stay in this house another week.”
Theodora’s head snapped up at the sound of her father’s voice. Lord Dowell stood in the doorway of the library with an expression carved from stone. She and her mother sat huddled together on the small sofa near the window, their tea untouched, their hands clasped tightly. Theodora felt hollow and wrung out. Her eyes were swollen and dry. She had cried until her body simply refused to produce another tear.
Her father stomped inside. “I have written to the Sisters of Saint Aldwyn, and they have agreed to take you into their fold. You will leave next week.”
Her mother rose so quickly the teacups rattled. “Benjamin, I disagree with this decision.”
“It is already set in stone,” he said, brushing past her as though she were a piece of furniture.
“You are making our daughter pay for your own sins!” Her mother’s voice rose with fury. “This is cruelty, not discipline.”
Lord Dowell whipped around, eyes narrowing in her mother’s direction. “Mysins? Have you forgotten that your daughter defiled herself with a man? Am I the only one thinking clearly in this house? I am protecting this family’s reputation!”
“You say that she has defiled herself all while forgetting that you have defiled our marriage!” Lady Dowell crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly.
“Our situations are not the same. Theodora compromised herself and her dignity when she laid with that abominable man.” The Viscount cast a loathsome look at Theo. “I will not allow her transgressions to taint our family name. She must leave at once!”
Lady Dowell snorted and fixed him with a piercing glare. “If Theodora goes, so do I.”
The Viscount stared at her with his mouth agape, then he rallied and replied, “You do not know what you are saying.”
“I do.” Lady Dowell looked condescendingly down the length of her nose at her husband. “When, you send Theodora away, I wish to go with her.”
“Mother, you cannot?—”
“You are not going anywhere!” Lord Dowell cut Theodora off with a hiss.
“You are punishing Theo because you cannot bear to face what you have done,” her mother shot back. “You are punishing her because you lost control of your own household.”
He ignored her entirely, as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “Theodora will be ready by Sunday. The carriage will take her to the station.”
“Benjamin!” her mother cried.
But he was already walking out, his coat swaying behind him. He didn’t look back. The door shut with a final, echoing click.
Silence settled over the room like dust.
Theodora stared at the empty doorway, her mind blank. She felt nothing. No anger. No fear. No grief. She had cried herself dryover the course of the last two nights until her body had simply shut down. Now she felt numb, as though she were watching her life from somewhere far away.
Her mother sank back onto the sofa beside her. “Theo… my darling…”
“Mother, you cannot come to a convent with me. That is not your burden to bear. I have made a mistake and deserve to face this repercussion.” Theodora squeezed her mother’s hand.
Tears gathered in Lady Dowell’s green eyes. “I do not want to lose you.”
