Lily frowned, and she looked like she wanted to say something more. But instead, she just rubbed Martha’s back and left her side to go to her wardrobe.
“Do you have a preference for your outfit today?” she asked.
Martha shook her head, finishing the last of her tea and grateful for the tiny bit that it helped her rolling stomach.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said.I’m promised to a monster. Who cares what I look like now?She thought, fighting back a sudden wave of tears.
An hour later, Martha moped her way down the stairs in a new, simple but elegant pink dress. Her stomach was still tender, and she decided that she wouldn’t eat much. She didn’t know what would be expected of her that day, but she didn’t want to take the chance of getting sick and ruining the day. Especially since Isabel was just a few days away from getting married.
Both her mother and father were seated in the drawing room when she entered, and Isabel was just sitting down with her plate. Martha mustered a smile as she greeted her family, helping herself to only a piece of toast and a handful of grapes.
Her mother studied her carefully as she sat beside Isabel, who was also looking at her closely.
“Are you all right, darling?” her mother asked. “You look a little pale.”
Martha widened her smile and nodded.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I just had a little trouble waking up this morning.”
Isabel nodded, promptly scooting over and reaching for the coffee pot and a cup. She poured a cup, adding a couple cubes of sugar and a splash of cream, just the way Martha liked it, when she drank it. Looking at it made Martha’s stomach grumble. But she took the drink, smiling warmly at her cousin’s thoughtfulness.
“Thank you, darling,” she said, putting the cup to her lips and sipping very carefully. Surprisingly, the drink wasn’t as hard on her stomach as she had feared it would be, so she took another cautious sip.
Her mother seemed satisfied then, giving her a fond smile.
“Last night was quite a lot,” she said knowingly. “Hopefully, the coffee will perk you up. We are going to be making the final preparations for the wedding today.”
Isabel squealed softly, and Martha couldn’t help but giggle. Her cousin’s excitement was always infectious, even though it was about her wedding. She tried not to think about her own impending, unwanted wedding as she smiled at her cousin.
“I don’t think you’re quite excited enough, Cousin,” she teased.
Isabel rose and twirled around the room, as though dancing with a partner.
“Is this excited enough for you?” she asked.
The women laughed.
After breakfast, Martha planned to sneak away to her studio to spend the day painting. She knew that, if she could lose herself in her painting, she would feel better, at least for a little while. But as she was leaving the drawing room, her father approached her.
“Come, darling,” he said. “I wish to speak with you.”
Martha swallowed, but she nodded.
“Very well,” she said.
She followed her father to his study, where he pulled out one of the chairs at his desk, and then took his own on the opposite side.
“I need to let you know that I spoke with Lord Billington last night, and there’s been a change of plans,” he said.
Martha’s heart rose. Had the viscount called off the arranged marriage? Was that why he had been so distant?
“Oh?” she asked, trying to seem casual.
Her father nodded.
“You will not be married this week,” he said. “The viscount has proposed that the two of you court for three weeks before having the banns read out.”
Martha’s heart fell, but it didn’t quite sink. She was surprised by the news her father had given her. It was the last thing she had expected, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it.
