Chapter 6

CHAPTER6

“You will marry him, and that is final!” The Earl’s voice blasted through the drawing room of Reeves Estate where he held a crucial conversation with his daughter who, no matter how many arguments she presented, could not convince him to change his mind.

The entire conversation lasted more than half an hour, and during the initial minutes, both she and her father were calm. They were able to present their arguments in a composed manner, but as time went by, their tempers rose to the surface. They had always been too much alike to be able to avoid butting horns which was exactly what Jane thought was happening now.

“I will not have this discussion again, Jane. Do you understand?” he said albeit more calmly but still with equal fervor and determination.

Jane felt an onslaught of tears coming on, the cause of which was twofold. She could not believe that her family would sacrifice her happiness to pay off their financial debt. She could not believe that her family would not even consider her wishes in this matter. There were so many things she could not believe, and yet, it was all happening. That was why she could not stop her tears from streaming down her face.

Unwilling to allow her father to see her cry, she turned around and stormed out of the drawing room, heading straight for her room. Fortunately, she had foreseen this. Something assured her that just like the Duke, her father would also not see reason. He only saw what he wished to see—his own way out of financial debt. The fact that he would be sacrificing his own daughter did not seem to bother him at all.

Jane angrily shoved a handful of clothes in a small suitcase then grabbed her little coin purse and counted the money she had inside. It was far from enough, but it would have to suffice for the time being. Later on, she would send for more, and she was certain that her mother would oblige. She had no idea how she would continue from this point on, but she knew that she could no longer stay here.

Her plan was simple. She had already informed her mother and father that she would be going to see a good friend who had just returned from a trip abroad. Of course, this was all a ruse, and everything depended on the outcome of this conversation. Had he agreed to change his mind about the wedding, Jane planned simply on leaving by a carriage and taking a stroll through Hyde Park, returning in two hours. However, the other option, where her father would not change his mind, was to pack her suitcase and sneak out of the house then take their carriage to drive her to the center of London where she would hire another carriage and leave the city. It did not matter where she would go. A small village nearby would suffice where she might be able to rent a room somewhere nice and simply remain in hiding for a while. She hoped that she would be able to return at some point, perhaps when everyone had already forgotten about this unhappy affair, and when the Duke decided to marry someone else.

As for the merger… well, that was none of her concern. It sounded somewhat selfish, and Jane truly did feel bad that she was turning her back on her family when they needed her the most, but marrying that odious man was something she would not stoop to. She would agree to anything but that.

Plagued by those thoughts and feeling the salty trail of tears on her lips, she was finally finished with the packing. She turned around, taking one last look at the room that had been her sanctuary her entire life. She never believed that she would be forced to leave this place in this horrible manner, feeling like an outcast in her own home, unheard and unappreciated.

For a moment, she even hesitated, wondering if she should simply agree to what was asked of her. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time that a daughter was saving the honor of her family. Those daughters were then forced to suffer in silence, living the rest of their lives in misery.

Well, that would not be her fate. Hers would be different. Hers would be happy, even if that meant that she would need to fight everyone, her family included, in order to gain her happiness.

Quickly, she wiped the tears with the sleeve of her gown. Her thin, willowy fingers were clutching at the suitcase handle as if someone might snatch it away from her and ruin her plan. Now, she had to be very careful. She had to tiptoe out of the house without anyone noticing her with the suitcase. She knew that mother was in the library with her tea and her favorite book. Her father, on the other hand, was in his study. Jane was tempted to go and see him one last time, to ask him one last time, but she knew it would be to no avail. His mind was made up. So was hers.

Inhaling deeply as if wishing to muster all the courage she would need, she flew out of the room, through the corridor, and down the staircase, all the while looking frantically about her, fearing that she might run into someone who would prevent her from leaving.

There is the front door, she thought to herself as she hurried towards it. She was so close. Just a few steps more and she would be out.

Just before she was in front of the door, she looked behind, half-expecting to find someone, namely her father, standing behind her with that resentful look on his face. But to her utter surprise, there was no one there. She was alone. She was free to leave… just like that.

She passed through the door, the warmth of the late afternoon sun welcoming her outside, beckoning her to go after her own happiness in the place where she believed she would find it. She smiled as she headed for the carriage. Phillip, the coachman, was already in his seat. Even the horses sensed the urgency of the moment, neighing softly as if beckoning her to hurry up.

“Is the carriage ready, Phillip?” she called out as soon as he noticed her and took off his hat before her.

“Yes, Miss. Jane,” he nodded in confirmation. “We may start whenever you wish.”

“I wish to start now,” she quickly said. “Immediately.”

He nodded again as she jumped into the carriage, placing her suitcase by her feet and closing the doors firmly. Her heart was beating like mad. Fear had gripped her very throat. She was breathing heavily, drowning with a lack of air in her lungs. Impatiently, she waited for the carriage to start. Every second felt like a small eternity because every second she was there meant that she could still be prevented from leaving.

Finally, the carriage moved. The horses pulled at it strongly, and relief washed over her. However, a moment later, the carriage came to a halt.

“Phillip?” Jane called out, right before she pushed the door, but then, it flew open violently as if someone was pulling at it from outside.

That was exactly the case as her eyes fell upon the enraged eyes of her father whose one hand was holding the door and the other reached for her inside.

“Where do you think you are going!?” he roared at her with all the might of a wronged father although she still felt that she was the wronged one.

“I am leaving!” she shouted back, not caring the least bit whether they were making a scene or not.

“No, you’re not!” he raised his voice at her more than he had ever done before. As he did so, he grabbed her by the hand, pulling her out of the carriage so aggressively that she almost fell to the ground. She managed to regain her balance, which kept her from tipping over and falling, after which she yanked her wrist out of his grip. Pain exploded in her hand, but she paid no heed to it.

“You cannot force me to marry that man!” she voiced out her displeasure loudly, but she knew that he was barely listening. She pushed him over the edge, and now, she would see his angriest side.

“You are my daughter, and you will do as I say!” he reminded her of an outdated set of beliefs which some men, her father included, still considered as valid.

Again, he grabbed her by the hand and kept pulling her back in the house, refusing to acknowledge any of her cries. He was utterly deaf to them. This time, Jane fought back less because she knew there was no point. Her one chance of getting away was foiled, and she would not be getting another one. All was lost.

He dragged her upstairs, all the way to her room where he pushed her inside, standing in the doorway and preventing her from going outside. It seemed that in his anger, his form had somehow grown wider and bigger. He resembled a dark monster from German fairy tales used to frighten children into obedience. She could see the wild rage in his eyes, something she never believed he would show to either her or her mother. But she was wrong. Frightfully wrong.

“What on earth…” her mother’s voice came from down the hall, but the Earl quickly turned to her, and with one swift gaze, shut her up.

“Stay out of this!” he threatened, and the moment he said that, the Countess’ voice died down.

Jane felt another surge of tears coming on, and she fought hard to keep them subdued. She would not cry in front of him. She would not show him how hurt and afraid she was.

“And you!” her father turned his attention back to her. “Seeing you cannot be trusted to stay here of your own volition means I will need to force you!”

Furiously, he slammed the door closed. The next thing Jane heard was the sound of the key in the lock being turned, barring her from leaving her room. A moment later, she could hear a few whispers. They had to belong to her mother, but they were quickly quieted by a madder voice. Then, it all went deathly quiet, and Jane knew she was alone.

Tears started rolling down her face without her being able to control them. Not that she even tried to. She sat down onto the bed, her hands crossed in her lap, looking down at her feet. Her home didn’t feel like a home any longer. Her family didn’t feel like her family any longer. Dark thoughts gathered from every single corner of her mind, and she allowed them to completely take over.