Page 58 of A Damsel for the Wounded Earl
She turned on her heel, not giving him another opportunity to speak, and strode out of the room.
Opening the door, she found herself face to face with Mrs. Thornhill, whose face was red with anger.
Unsurprised, Felicity steeled herself, lifting her chin.
“Listening at doors now, are we, Mama?” she said, hearing a little gasp of shock from Lord Vincent.
“Come with me, my girl,” Mrs. Thornhill said, tight-lipped. She seized Felicity’s arm, fingers digging in enough to hurt, and dragged her away down the hallway.
“Should I wait here?” came Lord Vincent’s plaintive voice after them, “or should I go? Mrs. Thornhill? Felicity?”
Mr. Thornhill waited wearily for his wife and daughter in their little private parlour. Mrs. Thornhill shoved her inside, slamming the door behind them.
“She refused him,” she snapped, apparently speaking to her husband, with her eyes fixed firmly on Felicity. “After all we did to encourage such an advantageous match, the girl turned him down.”
“I did turn him down,” Felicity said sharply. “I’m sorry, Mama, but I cannot marry him. I simply cannot.”
“And why not? What is so wrong with him, young miss, that you think you’re better than he is?”
“It’s not that – although I do absolutely think I am better than him. We have nothing in common. I do not even like him, and to be frank, I don’t believe he likes me. I’m sorry, Mama.”
Mrs. Thornhill moved across the room, coming very close to Felicity, their noses inches apart.
“Then listen to this, young woman. Your father and I are tired of supporting you. We are tired of being humiliated in public, of bearing up under your ridiculous hobbies and interests. You simply refuse to act in your own interests, insisting onstudying, making yourself the most ridiculous spinster the world has ever seen.”
Tears pricked at Felicity’s eyes. “Well, Mama, it is good to know what you think of me, at last. I am sorry I’m such a disappointment.”
Mrs. Thornhill swallowed, visibly steeling herself.
“This is what your father and I have decided,” she said, her voice wobbling just a little. “You are of age, and so of course we cannot compel you to accept a man, even if the match is so very suitable for you. From today, you have two choices. You can accept Lord Vincent’s proposal, and be a respectable, happy married woman, living a proper domestic life. Or, you can refuse him, and we shall act accordingly.”
The last two words were ominous, sending chills down Felicity’s spine.
“And what do you mean byacting accordingly?” she asked, trying to disguise the tremor in her voice.
“You will be sent back to our country estate,” Mrs. Thornhill continued, her voice impassive. “Alone. You will have no books, no paper, beyond an allowance of notepaper to write letters and keep up your correspondence. You will have no monetary allowance. If you need something – such as material for a new dress – you may write to your papa and I and request it. You will keep no company, and you will not accompany us to London or Bath. The servants at the country estate will be informed of these restrictions.”
There was a moment of heavy, painful silence. Felicity glanced over at her father, saying nothing. He avoided her gaze.
“You have agreed on this, then?” she said, voice wobbling.
“We have,” Mrs. Thornhill said. “We are your parents, and we have a measure of authority.”
“A living death, then? That’s what you have chosen for me.”
“Do not be so dramatic. You’ll be comfortable, well fed, well housed.”
“No books. No company. No freedom.”
“Women rely on the goodness of others to enjoy those things,” Mrs. Thornhill snapped. “If you do not understand that by now, Felicity, then you are not as clever as you think. This is what we have decided. Lord Vincent may not be a novel’s hero, but he is suitable.”
“He wants me for my money, Mama. I know it.”
“He has his own money.”
“So he says.”
“It is vulgar to speak of such things.” Mrs. Thornhill reached out, tentatively taking her daughter’s hand. “This decision is a stark one, I know, but I hope it will make you think hard, and make the right choice. I believe that soon, you’ll thank me.”
