I Will Never Let You Come To Ruin

"What if we got her married in less than a fortnight?" Uncle Fitzwilliam said. Beth turned immediately as did everyone in the room. "We could get her married, then the King would not be able to bring her to the castle."

"What?" Aunt Marrily uttered, as shocked as the other women in the room.

Father rubbed his chin, thinking. "Mr Richmond did come calling, asking about her."

Beth sat up, pushing back her unease. "The travelling merchant?" The same who had been interested in her? Who, before Charles's arrival, had asked for her hand? "Father, why would the travelling merchant ask of her? Why would you even consider this?"

"He is a good man."

"He did ask for my hand once, did he not? And now he is chasing after Gwen, and you still consider him a good man? Is he so desperate to be a part of our family?" She was sitting on the edge of her seat.

Her father blinked. "He is a good man because he gave up promptly."