Chapter 5

Lydia did not wait for Edmund to decide. She went to Helena first, crying about how the constable taking her away would endanger the baby. Then she reminded Edmund that if the fake pregnancy and the scandal of two sisters fighting over one man reached Northsea, the Hastings name would be ruined for good.

Last, she found Adrian and slipped him a letter she called "Evelyn's revenge plan," claiming I intended not only to destroy her but to report him for adultery and covering up arson.

She had each of them by whatever they feared losing most.

That night, the whole family gathered in the study. Edmund placed a written confession in front of me. It stated that I had taken a kerosene lamp to the records room in a fit of rage over the humiliation at my wedding, intending to burn Lydia and Adrian's marriage license. Lydia had tried to stop me, and the fire broke out during the struggle. Not premeditated murder. A momentary loss of control.

"Sign it," Edmund said. "This is the lightest punishment you can get."

"I didn't start the fire."

"Then don't sign." He slid another document under the confession. "Merrick will charge you with deliberate arson and attempted murder. Northsea won't marry a woman awaiting trial for a serious crime. You'll stay in prison until Martha wakes up, or until she dies."

I looked at Helena. She only pushed the navy blue wedding gown closer to me. "We're not trying to hurt you. It's precisely because everyone knows you as sensible and levelheaded that they'll believe you simply lost control for a moment. Lydia is different. She's fragile and pregnant. A scandal could actually kill her."

Edmund slammed his palm on the table. "You admit to a moment of weakness, and people will understand. But if she has to face charges for arson and a faked pregnancy, her life is over. Are you really going to push your own sister into the grave?"

Helena took my hand. "You'll only be in there for three days. We'll arrange a private cell, and I'll have food and medicine delivered every day. On the wedding day, I'll come with the bail papers myself to take you to Northsea."

She even held up the navy blue gown for me to see, as though signing my name would mean I could really put it on three days later and start over.

Adrian sat across from me, his voice low. "I believe it wasn't on purpose. Sign it. The Countess and I will come get you together, and I'll personally see you onto the northbound train."

"You believe me, but you want me to confess to something I didn't do?"

He looked away. "Lydia needs someone to protect her. I'm sorry. I'm begging you, just this once."

So they all knew the truth might not be what Lydia claimed. They simply did not want to pay the price of uncovering it, so they pushed me forward instead.

I picked up the pen and signed my name at the bottom of the statement.

Evelyn Hastings.

The ink was not even dry before Helena exhaled with relief and pulled me close. "In three days, I'll bring you home."

"Not to bring me home," I said, looking at her. "To take me to Northsea."

Her hand went rigid.

Lydia came in from outside the door and took the copy of the confession. Neither of my parents noticed. When she looked down at my signature, there was no fear in her eyes. Only satisfaction.

Three days until my wedding to the Duke of Northsea. This confession was the last piece of trousseau the Hastings family ever prepared for me.