Page 42 of Red Masquerade

“Your job as a wife is to keep up appearances,” Mother said, straightening her cloth napkin. “Remember? You must always be above reproach,like we’ve talked about.” A pointed look in my direction. “You will do whatever your husband asks of you.”

She had drilled this into my head countless times before, but her words still fueled a frustration within me.

“You wouldn’t be able to handle managing an estate,” Lucas muttered. His voice was low but its iciness scraped like knives in my skin.

Heat crawled up my neck. The cloud inside sparked like flint and steel. Fire roiled in my gut, my spine. “And what would you know about what I can handle?”

At this, Lucas’ look of disdain turned to a glare.

Those eyes locked on to me, and it was as if I could read the thoughts he pushed my way. That I should remain quiet, because he knew exactly what I’d done, what my mother feared, and he could blab to everyone—but he wouldn’t, at least not publicly, because he would never let what I’d done reflect poorly on him. What I did years ago, when I was still young and foolish. When my heart was easily captured.

He ran his tongue over his teeth, fist on the tablecloth. No words.

I averted my eyes, his stare too daunting.

“Anyway,” Lucas leaned back in his chair, satisfied at his subduing me. He turned back to Mother. “I had the pleasure of visiting who I believe will be my future brother-in-law, and he seems to be managing quite well over in England.”

“England?” The word shot out of me before I could stop it.

He had already chosen a bachelor? Already decided?

I had thought I would still have time, that Lucas would be surveying the eligible men in the city, in our circles. That I’d be able to stall, to push the decision as long as possible. Or even that I’d be able to convince them to drop the whole thing, that his time was better spent with his wife,awayfrom here.

But no, I was just a bargaining chip. A thing to be traded.

And the question was—what was he getting in return? Shares in some company? Status?

My mother gasped. Though she smiled, I could see she was just as surprised. “England? I suppose they do have quite the gentlemen over there.Titledmen, no less.”

Why so far away?

It was a stupid question. Of course I knew why.

We’d been so close one day, long ago. And now, he wanted nothing more than to ship me across the ocean.

Lucas gave her a calming smile, a hand on her arm, all ire dissolving from his gaze. “I had a few empty days in my schedule and decided I would see a friend, who just so happens to be looking for a wife.”

Sourness bloomed on my tongue.

“He’s willing and is the heir of a barony.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” Mother grinned, clasping her hands.

As if I wasn’t there, as if I had no say in the matter.

As if it was decided.

Itwas.

“He’s willing to make a visit over here, should we decide to secure an engagement.” Lucas looks at me pointedly, lifting his glass to his lips but never taking his cool eyes off of me. It remained unsaid between us, settling in the air atop the table, tainting the food like poison. His mind was made up, and so Mother’s might as well have been, too.

I fisted my hands in my lap, grasping at my skirt. Nails digging into my thighs beneath the fabric.

How had this happened so quickly?

“Wait.” I shook my head, forcing my voice to remain strong, unwavering. “How can I marry someone I’ve never met?”

A shrug as though it was inconsequential. “It happens all the time,” he said. “You will not be the first, and certainly not the last.”