dividing her father's property from that of Midwick Manor. Standing in the semidarkness, she pulled her woolen shawl more tightly around her shoulders against the falling snow. Through a veil of white she trained her gaze on the dark figure on a dark horse in the distance.
Lucius Carr had come home.
She wasn't expecting him until tomorrow, yet somehow she knew… Her steps had led outside before she knew where she was headed. A harsh breath escaped her. She tipped her face up to the night sky. Snow caressed her cheeks but did nothing to soothe the turmoil that twisted inside her. She closed her eyes, praying Lucius would not hate her all the more for the agreement that had been made.
He hated her enough already.
And yet they were to be married in four days. On Christmas Eve.
"What are you doing out here in the snow?" Her father's voice cut the silence.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and turned to see her father striding toward her.
"You mustn't become ill. We can't have that. You are the only thing standing between this family and ruin."
"A few minutes in the snow will hardly send me to my death," she replied quietly.
"Do you realize how serious this situation has become? We are on the verge of losing it all, despite the betrothal agreement. All because of you." Her father's gaze narrowed. "The previous lord and I allowed you your female sentiments by postponing the wedding until you were ready. But no longer. You will marry the new earl before this opportunity escapes us."
A gust of wind tugged at the tawny brown curls she'd failed to tie back. She allowed her father's voice to fade into the background. The wind quickened, bringing heavier flurries of snow. The first low rumble of thunder sounded.
She shuddered at the unusual sound of thunder during a snowstorm. Was it an omen of things to come? When she looked back at the rise of the hill, Lucius was no longer there.
"Elizabeth!" Her father's voice was harsh beside her. "Lord Carrick is arrived. You must go to him."
Elizabeth looked up at her father in wild protest. "Tonight? In this storm?" The land was cloaked in shadow. The wind tore at her hair and flattened her shawl against her chest.
"Aye. Tonight. My debts have already been paid by the former Earl of Carrick, which makes you the new earl's possession now."
"But we've not yet been wed."
"A mere formality. The terms are already arranged and executed. The longer you put this off, the harder it will be. And we cannot risk the new earl pulling out of the agreement."
"Can it not wait until morning at least? He just arrived. Perhaps he wishes time with his sisters."
Her father shook his head. " 'Tis done. Let it be over with. Off you go."
"Will you not go with me?"
He shook his head. "You are best rid of me as I am of you."
His words brought tears to her eyes that were quickly slapped away by the wind. She should have been used to the bite of his tongue and his neglect. The only time he was ever pleasant to her was when he was in his cups, or gaming, and he was neither of those things now.
Elizabeth drew herself up. Her father's debts had been paid. His life was renewed. For her, the payment of that debt had only just begun. Her father's mind was made up. "I shall go, if that's what you desire." Her voice was uneven and she had to steady it before she continued. "Might I at least take the wagon?"
He nodded. "If you're quick about it. I want Farnsworth to return with the horses before the snow gets any deeper."
Elizabeth nodded numbly as she moved back toward the structure that was her home no longer.
It took Elizabeth's father's only remaining servant, his steward, a short while to pack her clothing into her trunk and strap it to the wagon. With a final nod, her father sent her out into the darkness to travel the short distance to Midwick Manor.
If only I could put this off until tomorrow. Or forever. Elizabeth drew a ragged breath and willed her heart to slow as the wagon pulled to a stop in the
Lucius Carr had come home.
She wasn't expecting him until tomorrow, yet somehow she knew… Her steps had led outside before she knew where she was headed. A harsh breath escaped her. She tipped her face up to the night sky. Snow caressed her cheeks but did nothing to soothe the turmoil that twisted inside her. She closed her eyes, praying Lucius would not hate her all the more for the agreement that had been made.
He hated her enough already.
And yet they were to be married in four days. On Christmas Eve.
"What are you doing out here in the snow?" Her father's voice cut the silence.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and turned to see her father striding toward her.
"You mustn't become ill. We can't have that. You are the only thing standing between this family and ruin."
"A few minutes in the snow will hardly send me to my death," she replied quietly.
"Do you realize how serious this situation has become? We are on the verge of losing it all, despite the betrothal agreement. All because of you." Her father's gaze narrowed. "The previous lord and I allowed you your female sentiments by postponing the wedding until you were ready. But no longer. You will marry the new earl before this opportunity escapes us."
A gust of wind tugged at the tawny brown curls she'd failed to tie back. She allowed her father's voice to fade into the background. The wind quickened, bringing heavier flurries of snow. The first low rumble of thunder sounded.
She shuddered at the unusual sound of thunder during a snowstorm. Was it an omen of things to come? When she looked back at the rise of the hill, Lucius was no longer there.
"Elizabeth!" Her father's voice was harsh beside her. "Lord Carrick is arrived. You must go to him."
Elizabeth looked up at her father in wild protest. "Tonight? In this storm?" The land was cloaked in shadow. The wind tore at her hair and flattened her shawl against her chest.
"Aye. Tonight. My debts have already been paid by the former Earl of Carrick, which makes you the new earl's possession now."
"But we've not yet been wed."
"A mere formality. The terms are already arranged and executed. The longer you put this off, the harder it will be. And we cannot risk the new earl pulling out of the agreement."
"Can it not wait until morning at least? He just arrived. Perhaps he wishes time with his sisters."
Her father shook his head. " 'Tis done. Let it be over with. Off you go."
"Will you not go with me?"
He shook his head. "You are best rid of me as I am of you."
His words brought tears to her eyes that were quickly slapped away by the wind. She should have been used to the bite of his tongue and his neglect. The only time he was ever pleasant to her was when he was in his cups, or gaming, and he was neither of those things now.
Elizabeth drew herself up. Her father's debts had been paid. His life was renewed. For her, the payment of that debt had only just begun. Her father's mind was made up. "I shall go, if that's what you desire." Her voice was uneven and she had to steady it before she continued. "Might I at least take the wagon?"
He nodded. "If you're quick about it. I want Farnsworth to return with the horses before the snow gets any deeper."
Elizabeth nodded numbly as she moved back toward the structure that was her home no longer.
It took Elizabeth's father's only remaining servant, his steward, a short while to pack her clothing into her trunk and strap it to the wagon. With a final nod, her father sent her out into the darkness to travel the short distance to Midwick Manor.
If only I could put this off until tomorrow. Or forever. Elizabeth drew a ragged breath and willed her heart to slow as the wagon pulled to a stop in the
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