Page 18 of Forget Me Not

“Your sudden departure has caused a tremendous number of whispers,” Mother said.

“And your decision not to so much as mention these arrangements to either of us has caused a tremendous amount of difficulty out here.” Lucas looked to his father. “It is bad enough that you and Mother didn’t feel the need to informmeof this decision”—he set his gaze on Lord Farland—“but to not tell Julia is the outside of enough.”

“We’ve spoken for years of connecting our families,” Lord Farland said, clearly not viewing the night’s events as the indefensible actions they were.

“Unless that ‘we’ includes the two people required to facilitate that connection, your excuse doesn’t hold a drop of water.”

“Lucas,” Mother scolded, “do not speak so flippantly to Lord Farland. He has arranged a fortuitous and advantageous marriage for his daughter, as is his right and duty as her father. That in no way deserves your censure.”

“Not offering his daughter the least warningdoes.Choosing for her someone she does not want to marry, who has not expressed a desire to marry her,does.”

“I cannot comprehend your objections,” Mother said. “We never imagined you would be anything but elated at these arrangements.”

How could they possibly think that?

“Very few people have the advantage of knowing the person their parents choose, let alone already liking and caring deeply for that person.” Father motioned to himself, Mother, and Lord Farland. “Not one of us was granted that privilege.”

“Not all marriages are arranged any longer,” Lucas said. “More consideration is given to the feelings of the would-be couple.”

“There is too much at stake for this to be left to chance,” Father said. “You both will inherit titles and estates. Hundreds upon hundreds of lives are impacted by your futures.”

Julia began walking away. “They won’t listen, Lucas.”

He reached out and took hold of her hand, keeping her nearby. “Then we will keep talking until they do.”

She shook her head but didn’t pull free, neither did she look back at any of them. He’d have put his arm around her if he’d had any confidence she would allow it, or that it would help her. It would have helpedhim. He felt terribly alone just then.

“We cannot remain out here all night,” Mother said. “The guests, no doubt, are already beginning to gossip.”

“You are insisting on a match that will make neither of us happy and your concern is forgossip?”

“The worry is warranted,” Father said.

Lord Farland took up the explanation. “A daughter cannot refuse her parents’ arrangements on her behalf. Should this announced match not take place, it will be assumed you, Lucas, refused to marry her.I do not have to tell you what that would mean for her reputation.”

He hadn’t thought of that complication. “Surely there is a way to avoid that. The announcement was made mere minutes ago.”

“It cannot be prevented, Lucas,” Mother said. “Ladies have been permanently ruined for less.”

Lord Farland moved to where his daughter stood. “This is a good match and an advantageous one. It never entered my mind that you would be anything but pleased.”

Julia pulled away from Lucas and took a few more steps down the road, though she didn’t flee entirely, and said to her father, “You never once mentioned your intentions. If I am to be part of this marriage, why should I not at least be consulted about it?Beforeit is announced.”

Lord Farland shook his head. “This match was formulated with care and consideration. Many fathers choose for their daughters a stranger, one whose temperament and suitability is not so well known to them as Lucas’s is to us.”

She turned enough to look more directly at her father. The Valkyries of myth could not have appeared more defiant than she did in that moment. “Choosing a stranger would have been kinder.”

A boot to his stomach would not have knocked the wind more thoroughly from him.Choosing a stranger would have been kinder. Lucaswas less-desirable than a stranger? Even one who might have any number of horrible qualities?

Lord Farland’s posture stiffened visibly. “Caroline Julia Cummings, I will not abide you acting like a selfish child. It is time you grew up and began thinking of someone other than yourself.”

Julia paled with every word he spoke. Lucas didn’t think anyone else was even breathing. He had never before heard Lord Farland speak so sharply to anyone, let alone his daughter. Lucas took a step closer, but his father stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“After tonight, you can claim ample isolation in which to weep and curse the heavens and declare yourself put upon. And you can indulge in that all you want for a week.”

“A week?”

“Lord Lampton has procured a special license. The marriage will occur one week from today.”

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