Page 33

“What happened?” Ava asked.

“Thomas finally asked Papa for my hand yesterday, and Papa flat-out refused,” Stella huffed.

Ava’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“How could he do something so cruel?” she gasped, reaching a comforting hand towards her sister.

She could not help but feel guilty. She was certain that if she were still at home, she would have somehow found a way to resolve the disagreement between her father and Stella. Even though Notley Manor was no longer her home, she still felt responsible for the things that happened there.

“He insists that he will never let me marry a mere baron who does not possess enough properties,” Stella continued. “According to him, anything below an earl is not even worth considering.”

“So, he would rather you remain at home than marry a baron?”

“You know that Father can be rather unreasonable,” Eveline scoffed.

“Have you informed him that Thomas is the man you love?” Ava asked.

Stella shook her head. “He would simply explode if I told him that.”

“He doesn’t even care that the Baron is the only man who has asked for her hand in marriage so far,” Eveline added.

“Father claimed I would have received more proposals if I did not chase all of my suitors away,” Stella scoffed, a hint of a smile teasing her lips.

“Well, he is not entirely wrong,” Ava conceded.

Stella laughed as she turned to Eveline. “I am not entirely proud of this, but you should have seen their faces when I refused to entertain them or show them my talents.”

Ava nodded. “Stella was rather brutal!”

“I was simply irritated by the presence of any man that was not Thomas.” Stella shrugged.

“How will you convince Father to let you marry Thomas, then?” Ava asked.

“I have no idea,” Stella said, her smile vanishing instantly.

They all fell silent, each sister pondering over the predicament.

Ava got an idea then.

“Do you think Father might change his mind if Eveline and I spoke to him?” she asked.

Stella’s eyes lit up immediately. “You will do that for me?” she asked, surprise evident on her face.

“Of course,” Eveline said. “You are our sister, after all.”

“It is settled, then,” Ava declared. “We shall find a way to speak with him. We can only hope that he will listen.”

Stella nodded excitedly. “I am quite certain he will listen. He is incredibly proud of you both, after all.”

“Is that so?” Eveline snorted.

“I heard him bragging to his friend about how two of his daughters were now duchesses,” Stella revealed.

Eveline shook her head in surprise. “I cannot believe he would say that,” she said

Baby Henry began to fuss.

“Oh, you want your mama, don’t you?” Ava cooed as she handed him over to her sister.