Chapter Four
Marina
Marina tossed and turned in her bed again. That dratted man would ensure that she never got a good night’s sleep again. She hated the annoying fact that Evan still impacted her. She had hoped that her pride would have forced her to sleep. But no such luck.
Why did she interfere with the happenings of the evening, which only resulted in another encounter with the maddening man?
Diana ended up betrothed to the new Earl of Powis, so Marina hadn’t needed to interfere at all. Arguably, with hindsight being what it is, her pursuits might have been better suited to interfere with Diana instead of Evan.
Evan. The far too handsome bastard she couldn’t free herself from. The visual of him licking his lips haunted her and she let her fist hit the bed next to her.
Giving up on the notion of sleep once again, she rang for Millie to help her dress for the day. Needing to escape the suffocating walls of her room, she sought breakfast, finding her father already in the breakfast room. It would seem that not a single thing would go her way this season.
“Morning, Papa.”
She had avoided Minto at the ball last night, and she was certain that her father was going to have plenty to say on the matter.
“Good morning, Marina.” Her father set down his paper and stared at her.
She pretended not to take notice and made her selections from the sideboard, then took the seat beside him.
“You disappeared for a while last night,” he said. “Minto couldn’t find you to seek a dance.”
“My dance card was full, Papa. I can’t decline dances with suitors. And I’m sure you heard Diana announced her betrothal last night. I wanted to be with her to discuss preparations when I wasn’t dancing.”
“Indeed. There are rumors of scandal related to that betrothal. Perhaps you shouldn’t join your friends for tea.”
“I assure you, Papa,” she said, “that there is no scandal related to the betrothal. Diana was taken with the earl, and Snowdon approves the match. You are aware how shrewd he is when it comes to his sister. We shall begin wedding planning today, like we did for Juliana’s wedding last season.
I must be there.” What she said wasn’t exactly true.
She would get the details leading up to the betrothal later.
What her father didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.
The man wasn’t a reliable judge of anything if he believed Minto was an acceptable suitor.
“Very well,” he acquiesced. “Your friends have made excellent matches for themselves thus far and are strong connections in society for you once you take a husband.”
Marina rolled her eyes. “They are my friends, Papa. They are more than mere social connections.”
“You need to understand the way of society. Which is another reason to consider Minto’s offer.” He stared her down like she was a little girl he hoped to intimidate. Too bad he hadn’t realized that it stopped working on her ages ago.
“I wasn’t aware that Minto still made such an offer.” She offered a sweet smile and blinked through her eyelashes.
“Don’t be coy, daughter. You know his offer stands. I’m trying not to force your hand, but you are making it quite difficult, especially when you haven’t yet taken a husband.”
“Perhaps I’m being selective. Isn’t that what you taught me? To know my worth?”
“Your worth diminishes with each passing season, Marina. You’re not a debutante anymore. You’re approaching spinsterhood.”
“I’m barely twenty—”
“And Minto is willing to overlook your age.”
“Why, I must fall at his feet and thank him for that.” She pounded a fist on the table before she could think better of it. “You recall you promised me last season that I could select my husband, did you not? Do you intend to go back on your word, Papa?”
“Remember yourself, daughter. And I made that promise last season, but made no such agreement this season.”
“How convenient. Your word has an expiration date.”
His face darkened. “Watch your tongue.”
“Or what? You’ll marry me off to the first man who’ll take me?”
“The Earl of Minto is not a patient man, and he’s—”
“Rich enough to buy your approval. And revolting enough that you won’t meet my eyes when you speak of him.”
Her father’s jaw clenched. “You know nothing of what’s required to maintain a family’s standing. Nothing of the sacrifices—”
“Sacrifices? Is that what you call selling your daughter? From where I sit, I am the only one who shall be on my back making sacrifices.”
“Marina!” He slammed his hand on the table, rattling their plates. “You will not speak to me this way.”
“Then how should I speak to you? With gratitude? ‘Thank you, Papa, for condemning me to a marriage bed with a man who makes my skin crawl?’”
“Enough!” Her father stood, towering over her. “The Trowbridge ball is in three days. Minto has requested the supper dance. You will grant his request. You will be charming. You will give him encouragement.”
“I will do no such—” If her father thought she’d allow that blackguard to touch her, he was sorely mistaken.
“You will, if you wish to buy yourself more time, or I will accept his offer on your behalf.”
The words hit like a slap. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.” His voice was deadly quiet. “Show me you’re making an effort with Minto and produce another suitor, or I’ll be forced to remove the burden of choice from your shoulders entirely.”
With all the spite and disdain she could muster, she replied, “I am so sorry that I am such a burden to you, Papa.”
“Marina,” he ground out through clenched teeth, “you will not disrespect me. I am trying to ensure you have a secure future, when it seems you have no mind to make the selection for yourself.”
“You don’t deserve my respect. Not after I saw you with that woman last year.” The words left her lips before she could stop them.
Her father’s face immediately went white. “What did you just say?”
Marina squared her shoulders. “I know about that woman. In the hunting cabin. And you believe yourself capable of making the right decisions?”
“I am not explaining my actions to you.” Her father growled. “Do as I say, or you’ll face the consequences.”
He pushed his chair back and departed without so much as a glance in her direction.
Shoving her plate away, she folded her arms across her chest. Thankfully, her mother didn’t bear witness, or she would remind Marina how unladylike she was being. There was plenty she hoped her mother didn’t bear witness to.
But there was something about her father’s words that couldn’t get out of her head. He legally had the right to force her to wed Minto, but he hadn’t done so yet.
She couldn’t help but hope that meant it wasn’t what he wanted for her either. But she also didn’t have another suitor to consider.
Especially when Evan had taken up residence in her thoughts. But there was no hope of a future with Evan, not that she wanted one. Never again.
But as much as she hated Evan, she hated even the thought of a life with Minto more.