arely slept

her eyes, she remember

ill take place

e we

e had thought about finishing her education, finding a career she

r been part of he

marriage arranged

g morning, she had gi

ream sweater and black trousers, h

chen wa

s of orange juice and rea

awake

otte

an expensive-looking silk robe. Her blonde hair fel

eep," Charlo

ked towards

er cou

e glance

e of Al

gave a sh

don't

starting

oo

efrigerator and took

t, neither

h courage to ask the question

they were go

ria t

you w

arry

for a few seconds befor

til yes

't think tha

ia shr

idn't ask them

g more than Cha

kno

you looking at

placed her

sked you to sacrifice anything. But now that

expressio

not my p

e stared

e my s

nd

d left Charlot

d the bottle o

t don't blame me because Dad has decided

don't yo

ow

Tell him thi

laughed

hink Dad will

ed when yo

se I refused

lowered

cked up her

isn't exactly someone I would

u even m

ria p

a second, but Ch

I need to

em to know so m

expressio

ow en

another question, Victori

emained whe

hat conversation

-

ard Bennett received a cal

red in h

Bennett s

It's Jonath

tely straighten

ng. What a

to discuss the we

ve been expect

s a brie

dinner this evening. I thought it would b

expression

ertainly be

en o'clock at S

ure Charlott

pause

rlot

smile fade

younger d

ression that Victori

there has been

ort of

adjusted

le for the arrangement. Charlo

other end lasted lo

lexande

d hesi

l be in

what I ask

d swal

ith him befor

son has already mad

all e

wly lowered

estions, but not t

derstand that the young man wouldn'

d, the consequences would be di

-

reviewing a financial report wh

isitor coming

r didn't

tionist to send them

future

en st

wh

ing walked tow

. You'll be meeting

ned back in h

rrangements were

ey

I need anot

Alexander. It might be useful t

ve his fathe

und as though I

ys have a

o

gnored the

is Charlot

frowned

rlot

's younge

conds, Alexand

ced his pen

pla

d out the chai

the arrangement. Her family h

r stared

y was I supposed

od

onside

xand

marriage with one woman and now expect me to

han s

ily is in a diff

n't my c

ership is

nto their fam

oug

rned towards

ily's problems. He had barely been in

ange brides as though they were changing n

te know what's hap

e d

she a

an hes

says she h

e a quiet, hu

amily

ather

tonight. I expe

r looked

ays be

s head and walked

lock. Don'

ne, Alexander

nd opened the message his

Charlotte Benn

ied it

e the woman he had bee

the phone

ion made for m

-

ce, Charlotte stood in

a dress for the evening, but

about the phone call

ily d

rling

man whose name had been placed b

ck came fr

you ready?" he

mos

looked at the untou

en't you

turned t

er know I'm n

looked un

urse h

searched

're

has spoken to

e the answer C

ed up th

f he re

t walke

al with that w

e nodded

was preparing her for a marriage while nobody had

terling was looking at a photograph

knew what the ev

00

g was abou