Chapter 20 - Losing An Ally (2/2)

”I was thinking I don't want to get married,” I muttered mutinously. Stupid Percy, ruining my plans.

”Getting married is your duty and your honor. I have already been lenient with you, promising that you would not have to marry someone more than twice your age. And how do you repay me? By running off! Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

I had never seen Percy this upset by anything. He was actually pacing.

”Catherine, you have more than a dozen eligible suitors within those parameters interested in you. Including the duke, who is a particular friend of Edmund's! Wouldn't it be better marrying someone you already know? You would be able to see Edmund more often that way.”

”I do NOT want to marry the duke.”

”That is unfortunate because more likely than not, you will,” he snapped. ”I will make no effort to stop Mother and Father if that is what they intend to do. I have helped you enough.”

I yelled after him, shocked at his display of temper since he was normally so mild, but Percy was already gone. Well. There goes my only ally.

Unless you count Al…but his proposal was too unorthodox. Not romantic in the slightest. Not that I wanted romance from a nobleman!

He wanted to marry someone just to keep them as a friend. Exactly what kind of life did he lead to come up with such a crazy plan?

I couldn't deny that it was unlikely I would get a better offer. He didn't want a 'real' wife. But I didn't want to be anybody's wife, real or not!

With the heightened security around me though…would I get another chance to escape?

Percy wasn't on my side anymore. I couldn't count on him to get me out of any more sticky situations.

I think going against the countess by lying to her for me about the extent of my perfidy was too much for his rule-abiding heart to bear.

I was angry but I couldn't completely blame him. He had already gone against his nature for me.

To accept or not accept? Would I really be able to fend off all my suitors without any outside help?

Especially since the countess was so furious with me. She would probably marry me off tomorrow if the opportunity arose.