Chapter 2

The carriage had only gone a short way through the capital when it stopped abruptly.

Crying came from outside.

"Lady Elara, please!

"Let Julian go!"

Startled, I pushed open the carriage door.

Celeste Hale was standing in the road.

She rushed forward and threw herself down in front of my carriage, weeping prettily enough to draw a crowd.

"Lady Elara, Julian is my betrothed.

"Please don't take him from me."

Whispers erupted around us.

"Isn't that the Chancellor's daughter?"

"She's trying to steal another woman's betrothed?"

"I heard she fell into the pond at the flower banquet and let a man see her soaked through."

"Maybe she did it on purpose."

"For a noble lady, that's shameless."

The gossip made my head ache.

Celeste kept crying.

"I know House Sterling is powerful.

"A common family like mine could never fight you.

"But our families have already exchanged betrothal papers.

"Please..."

I very nearly scoffed.

She was no easy opponent. Her first words had already put me on the wrong side of it.

Before I could answer, Julian stepped up and helped her to her feet with obvious concern.

"Celeste, why waste your breath on someone like her?

"Let's go."

His gaze cut toward me.

Celeste leaned against him, but I caught the faint triumph in her eyes.

"Julian, you only saved her because you were kind.

"Who knew she'd planned the whole thing?"

The crowd's contempt deepened.

I spoke calmly.

"Don't worry.

"I'll find a way to settle this.

"Your engagement stands."

Julian paused.

Then scoffed.

"Lady Elara really knows how to perform.

"One face in public, another in private."

His reaction told me enough.

Father had already spoken to him.

As far as Julian was concerned, I was a woman willing to do anything to force him into marriage.

I didn't bother defending myself.

"You saved my life.

"I'll repay that debt.

"But I have no interest in you."

For a moment, his back seemed to stiffen as he turned away.

I wasn't sure whether I'd imagined it.

Then I remembered Celeste's strange expression, and I came fully awake.

I turned to Poppy at once.

"Have someone watch Celeste. Closely."

Three months later, the news arrived exactly as it had before.

Celeste Hale was dead.

Julian came to House Sterling to make his offer while I was embroidering a wedding robe.

He wore mourning white.

His eyes were red-rimmed.

The moment he saw the bridal fabric in my hands, he laughed coldly and slammed a wooden figurine down on the table.

"Celeste has only just died.

"And you're already embroidering your wedding clothes.

"Impressive, Elara."

Poppy stepped in front of me, furious.

"Master Reed, you've misunderstood. That robe isn't—"

I raised a hand and she fell silent.

Julian's expression turned more contemptuous still.

"Don't tell me you're about to claim the bride isn't you.

"At the flower banquet you fell into the water on purpose so I'd have to save you. You were willing to ruin your reputation just to fasten yourself to me.

"Now my betrothed is barely in the grave and you're already sewing your wedding clothes, and you still say you aren't scrambling to marry me?

"Aren't you supposed to be the finest young woman in the capital?

"Have you no shame at all?"

Anger burned through me.

I snatched up the figurine and smashed it against the floor.

"Julian.

"Take your things and get out of House Sterling."

He stared at me with disgust.

"I'd like to see how long you can keep this performance going.

"Tell the Chancellor he may have whatever wedding date he likes."

Poppy shoved and herded him out the door.

Then she picked up the broken figurine, still fuming.

"There is no gratitude in that man at all.

"My lady, half the capital would beg to marry you.

"How dare he treat you like this?"

I barely heard her.

My eyes were fixed on the shattered carving in her hands.