Meeting

Florence's hand was shaking when she brought the glass to her lips. She took a few sips, and it seemed to calm her nerves a bit.

She was shocked by the words Richard spat at their mother. She was also relieved that Marquis Galley was asked to leave.

What shocked her the most though, was the fact that she was actually going to cut off her hand. For a moment, she had gone over the edge. Her mother and the marquis pushed her over the limit. She took a shaky breath that drew everyone's attention.

"Are you alright?" Magnolia asked.

Florence could only nod. Her eyes ventured to assess the people around the room.

Her brother's face was pale and worried. He was staring at her, unblinking, as if he was afraid she would disappear if he closed his eyes for even a second.

She could see her mother over Richard's shoulder. Lina was still in her seat. If looks could kill, her mother would have murdered her long ago.

She sighed.

Her eyes traveled to Henry, but he was not even looking in her direction. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Finally, she looked at the marquise. Their eyes met, and Florence thought she would glare at her–like her mother–but instead, Sofia gave her a gentle smile. Florence felt guilt take over her immediately.

'I am ruining her son's life but she is still smiling at me. I am the worst.'

She looked down at the glass in her hand before she handed it to her brother.

"Have some more," he urged.

"I can't."

Richard nodded and took the glass away. He walked to his mother and took the seat beside her, where Marquis Galley was sitting before.

"I apologize for the commotion, Lady Flock," Richard uttered as soon as Daniel reentered the room and gave him a reassuring nod.

"There is no reason to apologize." The smile never left Sofia's face.

"Shall we discuss the matter, then?" he asked, making Florence and Henry tense equally.

"Please." The marquise motioned to him to start.

"As you know, there were a few witnesses who saw what happened and rumors have already transformed into outrageous ones," Richard said. "I think it is only fair to ask your family to take responsibility for my sister's reputation."

"Rest assured, Lord Kalwen, our family will do what is necessary."

Henry's head snapped to his mother.

"Evidently, marriage is the only solution," the earl adds.

"Of course, I agree with you."

Florence glanced at Henry and noticed his nails digging into the arm of his settee.

'I am sorry.'

"Please, Richard," Henry uttered. His voice was calmer than before. "Just ask your sister about what happened. I swear to the Gods that she was the one to kiss me."

Richard stared at his friend for a moment. It would not matter who initiated the kiss, people saw them, no one cared who started it.

Sadly, it is always the woman's reputation that is tarnished from situations like these. Henry's pleading softened his heart a bit.

'If he is telling the truth, I can guess that the marriage our mother was pushing onto Florence probably made her desperate enough to do something like this.'

Richard sighed and turned to his sister. Everyone in the room followed suit.

"Florence, do you have anything to say about this?"

All eyes were on her, and she could feel her back sweating. She did not expect the question, and had no idea what to say. She was not sure if Richard was asking her to admit that she was the one to kiss Henry, or if he was asking her about marrying him.

'Do I have the choice not to marry him?'

She looked up, ready to come clean and tell her brother what she had done. She felt ashamed, but Lord Flock had nothing to do with her ordeal.

"I–" Florence closed her mouth, then opened it again, but no words came out.

All she could think of was her mother and Marquis Galley. If she let Henry go, her mother would make sure she married the marquis. Florence squeezed her hands together until her knuckles went white.

'Damn it.'

"I love him." The words were but a whisper, but the impact was like thunder.

"What?" Henry roared, pushing to his feet. "Are you joking?"

"Calm down, son," Sofia uttered.

"Mother, please. Even if she was telling the truth, is it alright for her to ruin my life?"

"Ruin your life?" Richard repeated.

"Yes, ruin my life." Henry was facing Richard now. "I wonder how you would feel if a woman tricked you into marrying her. That is what your sister is doing, she staged this whole thing." His eyes were on Florence now.

"Henry–" Sofia tried to calm him down.

"Just tell them the truth," he yelled. "Just admit that your mother wants you to marry that arse and you are using me to get out of it."

Florence's eyes widened.

"Enough." His mother's voice was loud and did not leave any room for arguing. "I think you need some air. Why don't you take a walk?"

"I am not a child, this decision is mine to make." Henry's hand cut through the air, angrily.

"The decision was already made when Lord Fischer and his wife saw you last night." Sofia said softly.

Henry stared at his mother with parted lips, there was hurt in his eyes, like she had betrayed him. Then he met Florence's eyes and all she saw was hatred. He stormed out of the sitting room, slamming the door against the wall.

"Please, let us continue." The marquise said as she sat back down.

The result of the Flocks and the Kalwens' meeting was that Henry and Florence would get married. It was decided that the wedding ceremony would take place in a month.

They did not want to rush things any faster to avoid more rumors, but they also wanted the marriage to happen soon enough for the current ones to vanish as quickly as possible.