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“I’m not sure,” her father admitted. “He does seem to acknowledge that his reputation is a barrier to his being able to find a wife. But perhaps it doesn’t bother him as much as I thought it might.”

“What’s going to happen now?” she asked, feeling anxious.

“He’ll come for supper,” her father said. “The evening after tomorrow. He’ll dine with us, and you’ll do what you can to make a good impression. If he finds your company favorable, we’ll proceed with the arrangements.”

Astrid nodded slowly. She understood what her father wanted of her.

She also understood that she had a choice.

She could go along with his plan—be welcoming and charming when the Earl arrived and show him that she would make a good wife.

Or she could challenge him and give him cause to question her suitability.

She could behave badly at the supper her father had arranged.

To do so would go against her nature. All she wanted was to show respect for her father’s wishes, to bring him happiness. And if she thwarted his ambition, she knew that he would be displeased.

But she did have that choice available to her. She could not pretend it wasn’t there.

There’s still a way out,she told herself, trying to feel some measure of calm.I don’t have to marry him. I can still get myself out of it, if that’s what I want to do.

What did she want to do?

She didn’t know. The situation had become so complicated so quickly. And for some reason, she couldn’t seem to get the vision of the Earl’s handsome face and figure out of her mind.If I am to marry, there are far worse men out there than him, she thought.At least to look at.

But she knew nothing about who he was. All she knew was that he had a bad reputation. Her father thought that reputation was unearned. But what if he was wrong?

I suppose it’s a good thing we’re meeting face to face before a decision is made, she thought.I can get to know him while he’s getting to know me. I can make a decision about him while he’s making one about me.

But before she could consider going against what her father wanted, she needed more information.

“Father,” she said.

“Yes?”

“Why do you want me to marry him?”

“Astrid, I’ve told you already,” he said. “It’s time for you to marry. You’re a young lady of proper age, and a marriage with an Earl will help you ascend in society. You must trust me, as your father. This is what’s best for you.”

“But you’ve never said anything about marriage before,” she pointed out. “And you’ve certainly never said anything about marrying me to a nobleman. Something changed.”

“Astrid.”

“Tell me,” she pressed. “Tell me what’s changed. Tell me what’s different. I want to go into this with clear eyes, Father, and I deserve to know what’s motivating it.”

He sighed.

For a moment, she thought he was going to refuse.

Then he nodded. “I suppose you do have a right to know,” he said. “Come and sit with me in the study. I’ll tell you everything.”

Chapter 10

Astrid took her usual seat in her father’s study and watched him with wide eyes. Shehadn’tbeen wrong to question things. There really was more to the story than she had initially been told.

But what could it be?

Her father loved her. He would never do anything that he didn’t think was in her best interests. Had something about her own best interests changed recently?