The game had been a way for Willa and her friends to save themselves from boredom and to make light of the tedium of courting. Leonie had devised it. A suitable male of their choosing was singled out as the prize for the Season, and points could be earned for different actions of successful flirting. Being introduced to the gentleman was a point. Being asked to dance, three points.
Cassandra smiled ruefully at the memory. “You are right. She was eager to play, especially at flirting with Camberly. As I remember, you scored the highest points the year before with Lord Stokes. He was anxious to marry you.”
“Until his mother caught wind of his plans. His family didn’t approve of my family, no matter how much money Father has. However, Stokes was nice man.”
“He was a bore, Willa.”
“Very well, he was a nice bore. But he did pay attention to me.”
“I remember you hiding from him once you realized how serious he was. Boring is boring,” Cassandra assured her. “I’ll also remind you that you won this Season’s game, too. You do have Camberly—”
“Did,” Willa emphasized, wanting there to be no doubt. “I have thrown him back, and I refuse to be sorry. It is the most liberating decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Or so she hoped. In truth, Cassandra’s objections were giving her second thoughts.
“Society will not take kindly to your jilting Camberly, Willa,” Cassandra warned, her voice commiserating. “You might be ostracized.”
“Better to be ostracized than ignored.”
“They are the same thing,” her bookish friend pointed out.
“Oh, no, they are not. Being ignored is much worse. It means I don’t matter. And I want to matter. I want to be important to someone, just as you are important to Soren.”
“It might be hard to find a husband after basically leaving one at the altar.”
“It might even be impossible. Father could even cut me off. Then I would have to darn my own socks. But I refuse to settle. I want what you and Leonie have found. I want a husband who doesn’t mind my shortcomings.” Something her father did not offer her mother. He was always picking at her perceived flaws. “I want a husband who will be my friend—”
“Yes, that is very important,” Cassandra agreed.
“And I don’t want to be lonely, not in my marriage. You know, Father treats me like a princess in that he is willing to buy anything I desire, and yet, since you and Leonie left London, most of my conversations are with the servants. This morning, I woke very early and realized I can’t go through with this marriage. I don’t wish to continue living this same life. I want to matter.”
“Then you had best talk to your father and tell him what you’ve done.”
Yes, there was that. “I will... when the moment is right.”
“You exchange vows on the morrow,” Cassandra said, as if prodding Willa’s memory. “The house will be full of guests. The moment is now.”
“We can still have the party...” Willa suggested meekly.
“Or Soren and I can have a coach waiting out front for when you tell your father and the roof explodes with his fury. We will whisk you away to Cornwall with us and you won’t have to face the scandal.”
The scandal. “Yes, there will be one.”
“It is the price you will have to pay,” Cassandra said.
“Mother will not be happy, either.” Her parents would punish her for her defiance, and yet, Willa knew she would not back down. She couldn’t—
A knock interrupted them. Annie’s lilting accent said through the door, “Excuse me, Miss Willa, but you have a visitor. The Duke of Camberly requests a moment of your time.”
The Duke of Camberly?
The title seemed to form in the air between Willa and the door. She rounded on Cassandra. “He’s here?”
“Of course. After receiving your letter, I’m certain he will want answers. And, to be honest, you owe him an explanation. It is only right. Besides, you did wish his attention.”
“Iwishedit two weeks ago.”
“Willa?” Cassandra said patiently, her voice laced with the wisdom of experience. “Men rarely ever do what you wish, or expect.”
