Chapter 2

Martha was stunned. "My lady, are you really going through with this alliance? You and Lord Richard were only children when you last met, more than ten years ago. I hear he's grown cruel in his dealings. Your uncle only wants to send you there to shore up the Lansing family's standing at court. I fear you'll suffer after marrying into that family."

Evelyn waved a hand. "Martha, don't worry about it. My mind is made up."

Martha opened her mouth to argue, but ultimately just sighed and left the room.

Evelyn sat alone by the window, watching the candle flame flicker.

Everyone said Richard Ashworth, heir of the Ashworth family, was cold and merciless. Anyone who crossed him ended up ruined, their whole family destroyed. But Evelyn knew better. He'd only built that reputation to hold together a family that was falling apart around him.

In her last life, she'd believed the rumors too. Later, after Julian locked her away in the estate, the servants took advantage of her fallen status, cutting her meals and trimming her allowance. Years of that treatment wore her down to nothing.

Somehow, Richard learned of it. He'd gone after Julian at court again and again, closing in slowly, until he finally forced open the doors that had kept Evelyn prisoner for half her life. By the time he found her, she was already at the end of her strength.

Just before her mind slipped away, she'd heard his voice, rough with pain as he said, "I should have fought for you back then. I should have taken you away from Julian myself. But it's too late now. It's too late for everything."

Evelyn's thoughts drifted back to the present.

It wasn't too late this time. In this life, she would be the one to go to Richard first.

After learning she'd agreed to the marriage, her uncle sent a reply the very next day. A messenger rode through the night to deliver word that he would come to the capital in a month to escort her south.

Evelyn stared at the letter for a long moment, then dropped it into the brazier at her feet.

She watched the paper catch fire, then rose and crossed to the cabinet, pulling out a carved wooden chest. Inside were all the gifts Julian had given her when they were young.

Her face betrayed nothing as she tossed every last item into the flames. Everything she'd once felt for him, every trace of affection, burned away along with those things.

The next day, an invitation for a garden party arrived from the Grand Duchess, Selena Winchester. Evelyn meant to decline, but Selena had decreed that every noble daughter in the capital had to attend, so she had no choice but to change and go.

At Selena's estate, Evelyn spotted a group of noble young ladies who used to be friendly with her. They were gathered in a pavilion nearby, needling Ivy with pointed remarks.

"You're a servant girl. How do you have the nerve to show your face at the Grand Duchess' garden party?"

"Stole your mistress' fiancé and now you think you're the lady of the house? Some people can climb as high as they like. They'll never turn into anything but what they started as."

"Keep your voice down. She's the young lord's darling now. Say the wrong thing and she'll whisper it in his ear, then you'll be the one paying for it."

Ivy stood with her head bowed and eyes rimmed red, the picture of wronged innocence.

Evelyn frowned and instinctively steered clear of the whole mess. She wanted nothing more to do with Ivy. But she'd barely turned around when she heard footsteps behind her. She looked back to see Ivy hurrying toward her, skirts gathered in her hands, already bending her knees to curtsey.

"You're the young lord's intended now. You don't need to curtsey to me anymore," Evelyn said while stepping aside, her tone distant.

Ivy blinked and looked up at her, tears shining in her eyes, her voice breaking as she replied, "My lady, are you still angry with me? You've shown me such kindness. I never meant to compete with you for anything..."

She reached out to take Evelyn's hand as she spoke. Evelyn stepped back, out of reach. Ivy's hand closed on empty air, then her whole body suddenly pitched toward the stone railing.

"My lady, help me!"

Evelyn's hand shot out on instinct. But the moment her fingers caught Ivy's sleeve, she was yanked forward hard, and the two of them went tumbling together into the icy pond.