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“Believe me, I have. That’s why I’m saying it. I never want to see either of you again.”

“Rebecca-”

‘No,” she cut him off. “I refuse to simply sit here and listen to you disrespect me and my husband! I am a Duchess now. I expect you to treat me with the respect that warrants.”

Solomon got to his feet.

He moved to take a step towards rebecca.

Before he can get any closer, William was on his feet, putting himself between them.

“Did you not hear my esteemed wife?” he growled. “She asked you to leave.”

“Rebecca, are you just going to let to him speak to your father like this?”

When she didn’t say anything, he continued.

“What about your sister? Have you no heart?”

That was enough to snap her into speaking once more. “Have I no heart? What about the pair of you? Did you think if you were just cruel enough I would stay loyal to you? I have foundsomeone who treats me kindly, who treats me how you should have been treating me all along. I don’t want to see you again. Get out.”

Solomon gave her one last sharp glare. It was enough to make Rebecca’s clenched fists shake. “Make no mistake, you will regret this.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

“You heard her,” William snapped. “Now get out of here before I make you.”

For a moment, he was too stunned to speak. Solomon stood there, mouth open, eyes flipping between them. Then his gaze drifted to the others in the room.

Penelope was grinning like she had just gotten the best news in the word. Her mother was eating her meal as though nothing had happened, doing her best to have a normal conversation with Patrick’s wife.

She was doing her best to engage with Lady Sutton, but her eyes kept flicking to her husband. Patrick on the other hand had his eyes locked on the situation at hand, ready to come forward and back William up at a moment’s notice.

“I can’t believe I raised such an ungrateful daughter,” he shook his head.

None of them said a word.

After a moment, he spun on his heals. “Come, Dorothy. I think we’re done here.”

“But father! Are you just going to let her get away with speaking to me like that?” Dorothy whined.

“I said let’s go!” he snapped.

“But-”

“Now! We can talk in the carriage.” He stomped off without another word, leaving her to chase after him.

Rebecca’s sister shot her one last glare before following him from the room.

Rebecca let out a shaky breath before falling into her seat. It was strange. She didn’t even remember standing up. She must have done it some time during the confrontation but couldn’t place when.

Her eyes darted to the other guests, checking to see how they had reacted to the confrontation. To her relief, they were all eating and talking as if nothing had ever happened. Most likely by design, none of them were even looking at her or William, focused wholly on the meal and each other’s company.

“Are you all right?” William asked, flying to her side.

“I’m fine. I just- I just need a moment.”

“I want you to know I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself like that, but I’m sure that was a lot.” He leaned in close. “Do you want me to send everyone home?”