Page 11 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta

“There is no one!” Henrietta cried out, tears springing to her eyes. It seemed Dr. Ranstandt was her only friend; she would do anything to protect him.

Even if I must lie to my father.

“You remain standing? I will not tell you again to sit down.”

Begrudgingly, she moved toward the settee, her head lowered. She tried desperately to read the pages scattered along the floor.

Did one of the universities accept my proposal?

“Henrietta, look at me.”

She raised her head trying not to return his furious stare with a baleful one of her own.

“I haven’t a clue how to reason with you. You have your nose stuck in books far too much for someone so lovely, someone with so much potential.”

“It is true,” her mother agreed. “You could be the wife of a nobleman or—”

“Tabitha!” the General snapped. “Quiet yourself!”

“I have no interest in being anything but a physician,” Henrietta protested, she wondered why she even bothered to speak up. Her father did not care what she wanted. She was but a silly woman, incapable of being independent and university educated.

“You will be married,” Aaron intoned. When Henrietta opened her mouth, her father held up his hand to silence her. “It is already arranged.”

She gazed at her mother in shock. She felt the chill of betrayal.

“Mama?”

When Tabitha looked away, Henrietta realized that her mother had already been privy to her father’s intentions.

“Do not speak to your mother when it is I who decides your future! I am the master of this house, despite your desire to ignore that. You will be wed in a month’s time, and I won’t hear anything else on the matter.”

“To whom?” Henrietta saw her dream crumbling before her eyes. Convincing her father that she was destined to become university educated was a Herculean task; swaying a husband in her favor would certainly be impossible. No man would permit his wife to do such a thing.

“Ewan, Marquess of Peterborough. He is a fine match for you, Henrietta.”

“Oh Father…” She had to blink the tears away. Was she more frustrated or furious? She refused to let her father see weakness in her; she had striven for so long to be seen as strong and independent.

“You must accept that this is best for you,” Aaron told her. “I will not allow—”

A door slammed, the sound reverberated around them, and conversation halted.

“It was merely Seth causing a scene.” Tabitha sighed. Aaron grunted and looked at Henrietta.

“I will not allow any more petulance or argument from you, Henrietta. Do I make myself clear?”

Defeated, she nodded and stared at the rug.

“I wish to hear you speak the words aloud.”

She didn’t even look up. “You will not receive any trouble from me, Father.”

Aaron heard her proclamation lacked conviction. Tabitha interjected before he could utter the next word.

“You see, Aaron? She is a good girl. She will marry the Marquess, and all will be well.”

“We shall see,” Aaron spun off, leaving his wife and daughter behind. Devastated, Henrietta stared at her mother.

“You knew about this, Mama?”