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He is not afraid,she noted, squinting at Thomas.Why is he not? Is he addled?

Thomas continued to hold her uncle’s gaze in a silent battle of wills, everyone else jittering around them, no doubt fearing the same thing as Sophia.

“That we shall.” This time, it was Charles. There was a hint of warning in his voice, though Sophia did not know who the threat was directed at. “Follow us, if you so please.”

The luncheon, thankfully, proceeded without any significant trouble. It was silent, mostly because everyone’s mouths were full, but Sophia sensed that everyone used the arduous seven-course meal as an excuse to avoid conflict. Still, the prospect of a fight lingered in the air like the smoke of a hidden fire that might devour them all.

The drawing room was now full of the two families, neither side engaging with the other, their military lines scratched into the parquet.

From her corner of the room, where she sat with her uncharacteristically mute mother, Sophia lifted her eyes from the contents of her teacup. A shiver ran through her as her eyes methis—the wolfish grays of her future husband. She felt her grip on the teacup weaken.

His eyes are so… unusual. So intense.

She felt them piercing through her, appraising her like a piece of furniture or livestock. But had she not done the same when she had stared at those… astonishing trousers—rather, the thighs underneath?

Lowering her gaze again, she had a feeling that the teatime was about to get a lot more heated.

Soon enough, it did, with Thomas the first to talk.

“Standing around like statues isn’t going to get us anywhere. So, if it pleases you, Lord Alderley, I would like to discuss the terms of the marriage, as I do not intend to sit through another luncheon with nothing to show for it.”

Once again, Charles got ready to answer, but he got interrupted.

“Oh, is that so, boy? And what makes you think we will accept your proposal?” Frederick replied immediately, and Sophia felt her ears heat up with tension.

She recognized the change in her uncle’s demeanor, aware of his tendency to escalate things. Samuel had taken after him, unfortunately, rather than their more reasonable father. And the two would only rile each other up.

But, surprisingly, Thomas gave a measured, cold smile. “I am sorry… I seem to be mistaken. I was under the impression that Lord Alderley was Sophia’s father, not you, Lord Lynwood.”

The room bristled with anticipation, irritation crackling between the Duke of Heathcote and Sophia’s uncle.

What is he doing?

Sophia was panicking, her hand trembling on her teacup.

“You may have a tyrannical regime over there at the Pratt residence, but over here, we address problems all together—as a family,” Frederick shot back. “Head on as a united front.”

“If that is the case,” Sophia heard James pipe up from behind, surprising her and probably everyone else in the room, “would you be willing to put the matter of the marriage to a vote, Uncle Frederick? Since you are such an advocate of democracy and all.” He smirked, and Frederick sneered at him.

Frederick opened his mouth to respond, but Charles raised a calm hand.

“Frederick, please, you are not helping,” he said and turned his attention to Thomas. “I am indeed the father of the bride-to-be. I will speak for her.”

Glad they figured out who gets to be myvoice. It’s not like Imatter, I am only a pawn in their game. No one ever cares what the instrument thinks.

She clamped the flesh of her cheek between her teeth to hide her bitterness.

“She can’t speak for herself?” Thomas said. Sophia’s head whipped towards him to ensure she had heard him correctly. “This afternoon is full of mysteries, it seems.”

Sophia kept staring at him, bewildered. Of all people, why washethe one pointing out the obvious—that it ought to be her choice, that her opinions ought to be voiced, that shecouldspeak for herself? Was it some new trick?

Breathless, ready to seize her moment, she braced to speak, but her father cut in.

“We all agree that this deadly feud has been the bane of our families’ lives and one that we both want to put an end to, correct?” Charles stated.

“Agreed, Lord Alderley,” Thomas replied. “I think we can all agree that it’s in both of our interests to join the familiesin marriage, but it evidently warrants repeating tosomeindividuals.”

Frederick bristled, but Thomas ignored him.