The ladies' devious and vicious plans.

Antoniette could hardly move as she watched her mother's palm descend on her again after her words so she closed her eyes tightly out of reflex and waited for the slap helplessly but it never came. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that her mother's hand had been intercepted by her fiance. She could hear him say. "Mother, please calm down. There are some things we must discuss right away."

"Who are you?" Antoniette's mother finally noticed him for the first time since he had arrived. She looked at him from head to toe and became more restrained when she realized that he was a nobleman.

"I am your daughter's fiance, Aidan Knight." Aidan gave her a gentlemanly bow and watched his mother-in-law gasp at the news. He gave her a small smile after introducing herself. "Your daughter and I are to be wed this week and then we will be one big family."