Tension

Florence opened her eyes to knocking. She groaned and turned to her side, away from the door.

"My lady, Her Ladyship has requested your presence," Rilla said as she walked to the table and placed a breakfast tray on it. "She said the meeting with the Flocks is in an hour."

Florence responded with another groan. She reluctantly sat up and hissed as she felt soreness all over her body. She closed her eyes when Rilla opened the curtains and the bright morning sun filled the room.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she complained.

"How are you feeling?" Rilla ignored her comment. "Did the medication help?"

"It helped me sleep last night, but I think I need more of it to survive today."

"I thought as much, I brought you some. But my lady, you have to eat first."

Just like the day before, Florence did not have much of an appetite. But she knew that her maid would pester her until she ate. She forced a few bites down before she gulped the bitter liquid.

Wearing her dress took longer than usual. The medication helped with the pain, but not when she stepped on her foot. Her ankle throbbed and she had to lean all her weight on her right foot.

Rilla helped her walk to the sitting room. She let Florence lean on her as they took small steps. When they arrived, the maid opened the door and walked her mistress to the closest settee.

The dowager countess was already seated. No words were exchanged, not even a greeting.

"I will take my leave now." Rilla bowed to both of them before taking fast steps out. She could not stand the pressure in that room even for a brief moment.

Florence took a deep breath, her stubbornness pressed her lips together. She refused to speak to her mother after what she had said and done to her.

She knew that Lina would never apologize to her, because in her eyes, she was doing the right thing. But Florence was not going to let her bury her in a marriage with the marquis.

Richard arrived a few minutes later, he was in a foul mood. He mumbled a greeting before he walked to one of the armchairs a little further into the room and crashed.

"Isn't Henry Flock a friend of yours, Rick?" Lina finally broke the silence.

"Not at the moment." He glared at his sister, making her squeeze her fingers together.

"The Duke and Duchess of Salicera," the maid announced.

Daniel and Magnolia entered the sitting room together. The room was silent and the tension was palpable.

"Lord Kalwen, Lady Kalwen," Magnolia greeted.

"Thank you for joining us, Your Graces," the dowager countess said. "I am sure there won't be any issues, but your presence is reassuring."

"Rest assured, my lady," Daniel told her. "The Flocks are a very honorable family." She did not answer.

Magnolia walked to the settee where Florence was sitting. The latter was so grateful that her friend was there. She needed all the support she could get.

"Would you like a glass of brandy, Your Grace?" Richard asked as he pushed to his feet.

"A little too early in the day, don't you think?" Daniel raised a brow. It was early afternoon. The earl did not answer, he continued to the table in the corner and poured himself a glass.

"I'm afraid if I don't have a glass, I'll do something I might regret later," Richard finally responded while looking at his sister.

Florence flinched. Then, the room was silent again, except for the earl's steps back to his seat.

"Marquis Galley is here," the maid announced.

"What?" Florence was surprised. "Why is he here, Mother?" she hissed. But Lina did not even look her way.

"Ladies, Gentlemen," the marquis greeted as his eyes lingered on Florence.

"Lord Galley, courteous of you to join us." Lady Kalwen smiled.

"Of course, my lady." He sat next to her. "I was promised Lady Kalwen's hand after all."

Florence's eyes widened.

'She promised him my hand without even discussing it with me?' Florence's hand shook at the realization. 'Did she call him here because she still wants me to marry him?'

Magnolia noticed her friend's state, she reached over and held her hand.

Florence looked over to her brother. Surely, he disagreed with whatever their mother was trying to do. He told Henry that he could not get out of this without marrying her. But when she looked at Richard, there was a nonchalant look on his face.

'Does he not care?'

A laugh escaped Florence's mouth, drawing everyone's attention. She laughed at the pathetic situation she was in. Was she so insignificant that she did not even have a say in all this?

"Have you gone mad?" Lina asked her daughter.

"Maybe," Florence answered with a shrug. "You are driving me mad, Mother."

"You have done this to yourself." Her mother's voice was hard without any hint of compassion. "I did not raise you to be a loose woman," she added. Lina's words were so harsh they shocked everyone in the room.

Florence watched her with parted lips. 'How could you say that to me in front of my friends, in front of that man?' She felt tears prick the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away.

"Come now, my lady," Lord Galley told her mother. "Everyone makes mistakes in life, we just need to find it within ourselves to forgive them." He threw Florence a suggestive smile that made her stomach turn.

"You have a very kind heart, Lord Galley," the dowager countess told him, which made Florence even more disgusted.

'Maybe you should marry him, Mother.'

The thought amused her a bit, in the midst of the miserable situation she was in. She smiled.

"I wonder how rich you are, my lord," Florence uttered, not even worried about the consequences of her words anymore. "It appears my mother is ready to sell her own daughter for your riches."

"Florence," Richard roared.

"Oh, you remember my name, Brother." She tilted her head to the side. "I thought you had forgotten you had a sister that you promised our dead father to protect." Her tone was so cold that Richard could not utter a word in response.

"That is enough," Lady Kalwen ordered. "You do not get to speak. Do you have any idea about the rumors your actions have started?" she scolded. "You shall not speak unless spoken to, do I make myself clear?" Florence's whole body was shaking with emotions.

"Marquise Flock and Lord Flock are here," the maid announced as she opened the door for them.