Viscount Langley had originally been Cordelia’s fiancé. But after Cordelia’s mother died, her stepmother–Arabella’s mother–had schemed to swap the betrothals, leaving Cordelia engaged to the Viscount’s younger brother, a notorious rake. While the Viscount was brilliant and respected, his brother was a wastrel. In my last life, Cordelia’s marriage had been miserable. She died in childbirth after delivering a frail baby girl.
“My lady,” I said to Cordelia, “I can help you marry the Viscount. On the wedding day, with the help of your maids, we can switch the bridal carriages. Once the deed is done, no one can say a thing. Besides, you were the one who was supposed to marry the Viscount in the first place. This is simply setting things right.”
Now that Arabella had married off her other maids, I was the only one she trusted. I knew I could arrange the switch.
Cordelia had been living under her stepmother’s thumb for years, simmering with resentment over the stolen betrothal. She considered before agreeing. In exchange, she promised to grant me my freedom.
We began our preparations for the double wedding in two weeks.
On the surface, I continued to serve Arabella as diligently as ever. One day, she sent me to a remote courtyard to pick peach blossoms.
“My lady,” I said, confused, “we have peach trees in our own garden. Why must I go to that deserted courtyard?”
my
proposal for only a day
Her eyes darted away for a second. “Just do as you’re told. The blossoms in this garden are for viewing. No one sees the ones in the old yard, so go pick them for
me.”
I went as ordered. The courtyard was overgrown and desolate.
“Aurora.“. A man in a fine green livery stepped out from behind a crumbling wall. It was Sterling. A sly smile played on his lips as his eyes raked over my body.
My blood ran cold. My hand clenched into a fist as the horrific memories of my past life flooded back. “Sterling,” I said, my voice sharp. “What are you doing here? Who allowed you into the private courtyards of the manor?”
“Why, your future, mistress, of course,” he said, his voice smooth as oil. He lunged forward and grabbed my wrist, his smile turning lecherous. “Aurora, we’re to be married soon. Surely you won’t deny me a kiss…” He pulled me into a forceful embrace.
Panic seized me. I dropped my basket and struggled wildly. “Let go of me! Get off!”
Picking flowers was just a pretense. Arabella had arranged a private meeting for us. A chill shot up from the soles of my feet, freezing me to the core. She was so cruel. Though I was just a maid, I came from a respectable fam
I would not endure such humiliation.
In my struggle, I bit his arm, hard..
Sterling yelped in pain and released me. Then, his face twisted in anger,
Crack.
nd he slapped me across the face. “You bitch! How dare you bite me!”
The blow stunned me for a moment. I stumbled back, nearly falling. My cheek was already swelling, hot and painful. I didn’t hesitate. I turned and fled.
When Arabella saw me return with a bright red handprint on my face, she frowned, setting down her teacup with a clatter. “What happened? Sterling told me you bit him for no reason. Do you have any idea what a wonderful opportunity I created for you? Why are you so unappreciative?”
The questions I wanted to scream died in my throat. All that remained was a profound, icy coldness. The answer was perfectly clear. She had never truly respected
- me. She didn’t see this as a humiliation, as an assault on my dignity.
“My lady,” I said, my voice eerily calm, “Sterling tried to force himself on me. That is why I bit him. And I must ask you not to do such things again. It is improper for a man to be allowed into the inner courtyards. If word got out, my reputation would be ruined, but more importantly, it could damage yours.”
Her face flushed with anger and embarrassment. “When two people are in love, isn’t it normal to get carried away? Why must you be so difficult?” She flicked her sleeve in frustration and stormed out. “Fine! I wash my hands of this! No good deed goes unpunished.”
The entire manor was abuzz with festive preparations for the two weddings. I was busier than anyone. The wedding gown, the handkerchiefs, the slippers for the in- laws all the things the bride was supposed to make herself were handed to me.
“We are like sisters,” she’d said sweetly. “It doesn’t matter who does it. I trust you more than anyone.”
With little time, I was serving her during the day and sewing late into the night, getting less than an hour of sleep. My eyes were raw progress daily, allowing no rest.
She checked my
One day, to my surprise, Thomas came to find me.
