CHAPTER 3

"You must remember, Verity, that you need to make a good impression this evening. Your very future is at stake here."

Verity scowled, but her brother chose to ignore it. He continued to look out the carriage window as he talked.

Henry was a pragmatic and ambitious man, which often led him to be overbearing, especially in the last four years. Verity wished that her mother would stand up for her, to assist her in making her own decisions, but that wasn't always possible, such as right now. Elizabeth had expressed her discomfort at the idea, yet here they were, still going to dinner with the Aldfords.

"Lord Ambrose Aldford is most certainly looking for a wife, Verity, and of course you may well be perfect for that role. I cannot look after you forever." Henry continued in a matter-of-fact way that grated on her nerves. He made her feel like nothing more than a burden to get rid of as quickly as possible. She did not wish to marry a man that she did not know. Especially a man that she knew was so much older than her, with many children of his own. A man whose reputation wasn't the most pleasant one.

"Henry, you don't need to speak so harshly."

Verity smiled at her mother, grateful that she had finally spoken out, but she knew that Elizabeth's role as a peacekeeper wasn't always enough to silence Henry. Especially when he had stern ideas in his mind about what Verity should do.

"Mother, I am simply reminding Verity that she must behave appropriately if she ever wishes to marry." Henry threw his hands in the air in frustration. "The more the years pass, the more challenging it will be to find someone who wishes to marry a spinster. I am only doing what is right."

Elizabeth reached across and rested her hand on top of Henry's. "I understand that you believe your words are right, but this may not be the right time for them."

"So, when am I supposed to remind Verity how to behave…"

Henry's words trailed off.

Verity was grateful for the silencing look her mother must have shot at Henry. She truly did not need to hear all of this right before dinner.

She did not want to hear a thing.

The city passed by the window of the carriage and Verity allowed herself to get lost in it for a moment. Anything was better than thinking about her future.

Verity knew that her brother could not care for her forever. She did not wish for him to do so, but she had tried to find a suitable match for herself. Even when she was in mourning over what had happened with Cedric, she still attended all the high society events the following year. It wasn't her fault that no one really even seemed to look her way.

Eventually, much too quickly in Verity's opinion, they arrived at the Aldford residence. It was a grand manor house with a large estate surrounding it, but Verity did not care for a tour of the home, because she did not wish to be here for long.

She could hardly even lift her eyes of the ground as the butler greeted them and took them inside. How was she supposed to be polite to this stranger when she knew that her brother wished to set them up? It was such an awkward and humiliating position to find herself in, especially because she had met Cedric so organically at a ball.

"Well hello there." A much older man rose to his feet as soon as they stepped inside the parlor. "Lord Henry Sinclair, how wonderful it's to see you."

"Lord Ambrose Aldford," Henry replied with a much more pleasant tone than he had used in the carriage when speaking to Verity. "Thank you so much for inviting us. This is my mother, Lady Elizabeth Sinclair, Countess of Reedsfield, and my sister, Lady Verity Sinclair."

"How wonderful it's to meet you." Ambrose bowed and Verity curtsied, but she could not help feeling incredibly awkward, like she was on display. "And here are my five daughters. Lady Cordelia Aldford, and Lady Amelia Aldford. And my three youngest who have not debuted yet. Sarah, Patsy, and Harriet."

Verity forced herself to smile. The younger girls all beamed back at her, well-practiced in their politeness. But the older sisters made it abundantly clear right away that they were not impressed with the sight of Verity at all. They greeted her with a monotone voice and made it very obvious that they were running their eyes up and down her in disgust. Was it her dress that did not please them, or Verity's presence herself? She wasn't pleased to find herself here either, but she did not think there any reason to be so rude about it.

Verity could not help but shrink under their scrutinizing gazes.

"Well," Ambrose finally declared. "Let us head to the dining room. Dinner is served."

Verity waited until everyone else walked first. She could not stand the idea of anyone looking at her from behind. Especially when she knew that everyone had talked behind her back for many a month.

Amelia and Cordelia walked just ahead of her, whispering just loud enough for her to hear, which actually might have been worse than whispers out of ear shot behind her.

She was certainly more burned by them.

"I would be embarrassed," Cordelia giggled. "Being a jilted spinster."

"I know," Amelia agreed just as nastily. "I would not allow my face to be seen in public after what happened."

An intense heat burned in Verity's cheeks. This was exactly what she had been worried about. Having these girls hit on her worst insecurities only made this painful evening even harder to deal with. How was she supposed to get through this whole dinner when it was clear that she wasn't welcome?

How could Henry do this to her?

The dining room was lavishly decorated, the long table set with fine china and sparkling crystal. Verity took her seat, strategically positioned between her mother and Henry, but directly across from Ambrose and his daughters. She kept her eyes downcast, hoping to avoid any more cutting glances or whispered insults, but she had a feeling that they would continue to come her way regardless.

Ambrose, seemingly oblivious to the tension, began the dinner with a toast.

"To new beginnings and prosperous futures," he declared, raising his glass.

Verity forced a smile and lifted her glass along with everyone else, though she felt anything but celebratory.

The meal commenced, and Verity found herself picking at her food, her appetite completely absent. Conversations flowed around her, primarily between Henry and Ambrose, who discussed business and mutual acquaintances with an air of camaraderie that only deepened Verity's sense of isolation.

Occasionally, Elizabeth would attempt to draw Verity into the conversation, asking her opinion on various topics, but Verity's responses were brief and stilted. Her mind was too preoccupied with the whispers and laughter that seemed to bubble up every time Cordelia or Amelia spoke. She could not seem to manage any more than that.

Desperate to find some common ground, Elizabeth tried to steer the conversation toward Verity's passion, just to see if there was anything herself and Ambrose could build upon

"Lord Aldford," Elizabeth began, her voice steady but tinged with apprehension, "I have heard that you have a fine collection of paintings. That is very interesting, especially as Verity is an artist herself.

Ambrose looked at Verity, his expression bordering on condescending as he responded.

"Yes, I have a rather extensive collection," he said dismissively, taking a sip of his wine. "However, it's merely a hobby of mine, nothing more. I find my time is better spent on more practical pursuits."

Verity's heart sank.

Was there anything else to say?

It seemed that Henry thought there was. "I recently took Verity to an exhibition featuring the works of Thomas Gainsborough. She liked his landscapes…"

He cocked a knowing eyebrow at Verity, like he thought this might actually work.

Of course, it did not.

Ambrose shrugged, clearly uninterested. "Gainsborough, yes. His work is adequate, though I find it rather lacking in comparison to more contemporary pieces. But as I said, art is not a primary concern of mine."

Feeling increasingly invisible, Verity struggled to maintain her composure. Why were they bothering with this?

She cast a glance at her mother, who offered her a sympathetic smile.

Henry, meanwhile, continued to dominate the conversation with Ambrose, oblivious to Verity's discomfort. "So, tell me about these practical pursuits…"

Verity's scowl went unnoticed by Ambrose but not by her brother, who chose to ignore it.

She felt like an object, a means to an end rather than a person with her own desires and dreams.

As the dinner dragged on, Verity felt increasingly suffocated. The food on her plate remained mostly untouched, her appetite completely vanished. The idle chatter and pointed looks from Ambrose's daughters only added to her misery.

At one point, Ambrose turned to Verity with a forced smile, seemingly remembering that he was supposed to be getting to know her, not just her brother. It was the first time he had addressed her directly, and she truly wished he had not bothered.

"Tell me, Lady Verity, what do you envision for your future?"

The question, while seemingly innocuous, felt like a trap.

Verity took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I envision a future where I can pursue my passions and contribute to society in a meaningful way. Art is one of those passions, and I hope to continue exploring it."

Ambrose's smile faded, replaced by a look of thinly veiled disapproval.

"A noble sentiment," he said coolly, "but one must also consider practicalities. A lady's primary duty is to her family and household."

Verity forced a polite nod, though inwardly she seethed.

She felt trapped, cornered in to a role she had no desire to play.

Henry had to see that this wasn't a good idea, right? Surely he could understand Verity's sadness. Just because they were not as close as they used to be, did not mean he had no idea what was happening within her heart. Surely there was a part of him that still cared.

She endured an hour of stilted conversation with her mother and the other ladies, but she couldn't hide her relief when the butler came to announce that the carriage was readied. Verity stood up, relieved that the evening was finally ending.

She forced a polite smile as she made her farewells, curtsying to Lord Ambrose and his daughters.

"Thank you for a lovely evening, Lord Aldford," Verity said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.

Ambrose nodded, his expression unreadable. "It was a pleasure to have you and your family here, Lady Verity. I hope we can do this again soon."

Verity doubted she could endure another evening like this one, but of course she wasn't going to say as much.

Once inside the carriage, Verity felt the tension begin to ease. Her mother sat beside her, offering a comforting presence, while Henry settled across from them. The carriage started to move, and Verity stared out of the window, her thoughts a tangled mess.

As the carriage rolled through the quiet streets, Henry leaned back in his seat, a satisfied smile on his face.

"I believe the evening went quite well. Lord Aldford seems very interested. This match would be advantageous for our family, Verity. You must see that."

Verity continued to stare out the window, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She understood her brother's ambitions, his desire to secure a prosperous future for their family. Yet, the thought of her own desires and dreams being sacrificed filled her with a profound sense of despair.

"Henry," she began softly, her voice almost lost in the rumble of the carriage wheels, "I understand your intentions, but I would rather be alone and forgotten than bound to a man who does not love me.

Henry's smile faded, replaced by a look of irritation. "Verity, you must be practical. Love is a luxury we cannot afford. Lord Aldford will provide you with security and stability. That is what matters."

She lapsed into silence as a sense of hopelessness quieted her thoughts.