Chapter 2

The following morning, I returned to Jameston Manor with only Hilda.

I hadn't finished sorting out the property I had brought into the marriage. I had only come to tell my parents that I had signed the divorce agreement.

The gatekeeper recognized the Page family's carriage and hurried in to announce my arrival.

When I walked into the main hall, my parents, my brother, and my sister-in-law were all waiting.

As soon as I set the divorce agreement on the table, my father, Ronan Jameston, asked, "When is Lord Page going to marry Juliet?"

Not one of them asked how I felt about the end of my marriage of six years.

"I don't know when the wedding will be," I replied. "I returned today to let you both know that I'll be living here for a while. And I have no intention of marrying Josiah."

Father's expression darkened at once. "Lord Page chose a husband for you himself. It's a mark of respect for our family. If you call off the marriage, you'll offend both Josiah and Lord Page."

My elder brother, Merlin Jameston, frowned as well. "Sebastian mentioned yesterday that once things had settled down at home, he could recommend me for a position in the War Office.

"You'd be marrying his most trusted second-in-command. From then on, the Page, Hewitt, and Jameston families would truly be one."

My sister-in-law, Valeria Wright, spoke up beside Merlin. "Isolde, even if you won't consider your own future, you should at least think of Merlin's."

I glanced at her. "Juliet's marriage buys our family influence, while mine buys Merlin a government post. What do I get in return?"

My mother, Edwina Moore, avoided my gaze. "General Hewitt swore he would take no mistresses. If you marry him, you'll be the only woman he'll ever have. Isn't that all a woman can hope for in life? Juliet has already waited six years. You can't make her lose Sebastian because of you again."

I heard footsteps from behind the folding screen.

Juliet stepped out. "If Isolde refuses to remarry, then I won't marry Sebastian either."

Mother stood up at once. "Juliet, don't be ridiculous!"

Juliet shook her head. "If she vows never to marry again after the divorce, what will people say? They'll say I stole her husband and drove her out of her own home."

I fixed my eyes on Juliet. "You don't actually want to give Sebastian up. You only want me out of the way before you marry him."

She stepped forward and spoke under her breath. "If you never settle down with someone else, Sebastian will always feel guilty about you. I won't have my husband spend the rest of his life worrying about his former wife."

Father slammed his hand on the table. "That's enough! You will agree to this marriage, whether you want to or not."

"And what if I refuse?" I asked.

"Then you'll go and repent in the chapel," Father said. "You can come out when you have come to your senses."

I turned and walked out.

Hilda hurried after me, but Merlin stopped her. "Father only wants her to reflect on what she has done. You're not allowed to follow her."

…

The sun was still up when I walked into the chapel.

I only had to be on my knees for a few hours. I could endure that.

But after nightfall, rain began to fall. The stone tiles grew damp, and the chill slowly seeped into my knees.

Hilda came running with a cloak and hot water. "Ms. Isolde has old injuries. Please, let me inside!"

Merlin blocked the doorway. "Father gave his orders. No one can enter until Isolde admits her mistakes."

Valeria tugged at his sleeve. "It's so cold out here. Couldn't we at least let her have the cloak?"

Merlin shook her off. "If she breaks off the marriage, I'll lose my chance at a post in the War Office. Whose side are you on?"

Valeria looked down and said nothing more.

Before long, Mother arrived too. She had her hand on the door latch. "Isolde, just agree to the marriage, and I'll take you back to your room."

"I won't agree," I replied.

Mother stood there for a long while before finally taking her hand off the door.

Juliet took the cloak from Mother. "Go back, Mother. If she really can't bear it, she'll give in."

As daybreak neared, Juliet stood outside the door again.

"Isolde, have you come to your senses?" she asked.

I braced myself against the altar and slowly stood up. "I have. You're not worried that I'll refuse to remarry. You're afraid that even after I give up my place as his wife, Sebastian still won't be able to forget the six years we shared."

I had barely taken a step when my knees gave way, and I fell heavily to the ground.

Silence fell outside the door for a moment.

Juliet started to push the door open, then hesitated.

"Inform Father first. Don't let her use this to win sympathy and get out of it."