Emily trembled at the idea. The Callum she knew would not be so cruel. Then again, she had to accept that she did not know him at all. For even if his opinion of her had changed in recent weeks, he’d made no mention of the book he’d written. He had, in short, kept it a secret.
And not the good kind of secret that ended with cake, flowers, and happiness, but rather the unforgiveable kind intended to see her destroyed. Why else would he have written it? What possible motivation could he have had if not to immortalize her as an unkind shrew who didn’t deserve to be loved?
She heaved a big breath and nearly choked on the air when she tried to expel it. Oh, how she loathed him. He’d used an innocent boy to lure her, for heaven’s sake. It was beyond sinister.
The sound of the front door opening and closing caught her attention a good hour later.
Emily stood and went to greet her parents. She met them in the foyer.
“I think I’ve made a terrible error in judgement.”
Mama and Papa shared a look before ushering her toward the parlor with Mama quickly assuring Larrow that they would be ready for supper soon.
“What’s happened?” Papa asked as soon as he’d shut the door. “Has this got something to do with Stratton?”
She nodded. “I cannot marry him.”
“But…” Mama shook her head as she lowered herself to the sofa. “Word of your engagement is already spreading.”
“How is that possible?” Emily couldn’t imagine her mother was right. She and Papa had gone straight to Seaton Hall and back. Whom would they have spoken to?
“Since you and Stratton were in agreement, we saw no reason to whisper about it while we were at Seaton Hall.” Papa, who wore a severe expression, clasped his hands behind his back. “Your grandmama was extremely pleased on your behalf, by the way. Despite her weakened state, she wouldn’t stop talking about your impending nuptials. Servants will have heard. Your aunts, uncles, and cousins too.”
Emily lowered herself very slowly to one of the armchairs. “They were all there?”
“They arrived this afternoon, in response to the letter I sent them.”
“Of course they did.” Emily sighed.
“We’ve assured them you would invite them to your wedding,” Mama murmured.
Emily glanced at her mother and nodded. “Right.”
Her entire body felt numb, her brain too.
It was too late. She was stuck. If her aunts knew, the whole world would soon be informed. Ending such an engagement would lead to scandal – a scandal that would affect her and her family, most notably her younger cousins.
“Will you tell us what has prompted this change of mind?” Papa asked. “You looked quite smitten with Stratton this afternoon. What’s changed?”
“As it turns out, he’s not who I thought him to be.”
Papa held her gaze. “I’ll assume that you’re not referring to him being a duke without a fortune.”
“He’s written a book,” Emily said while doing her best to keep her composure when all she wanted to do was cry. “I recognized one of the characters in it as me, and I was not depicted in a favorable light.”
Papa straightened. “He insulted you?”
“Indirectly, yes.”
“That bloody, good-for-nothing, scoundrel,” Papa seethed. “I ought to call him out for this. That would certainly solve your problem. You cannot marry him if he’s dead.”
“Good heavens.” Mama sent Papa a chastising glance. “Must you be so macabre?”
“When the situation calls for it,” Papa grumbled. “Besides, you can’t deny that I do have a point.”
Mama puffed a breath and turned to Emily. “Has this book been published?”
“Not yet. It’s set for release on Monday.”
