Sonia appeared in his study totally oblivious to what would happen.
“Good morning, Edward.”
“Not so good, sister. I don’t know how long you thought you could deceive us but I know about your rendezvous with the Marquess of Wilmington and this morning very early I sent a note to our father and I made an appointment to see the Marquess in the afternoon. I’m sure he is a man of honor who will respond as is due for his actions. Otherwise, I will have to face him in a duel.”
“Don’t!” Sonia was horrified. “I was the one who said ...”
“I don’t want to hear your lies. At this moment I am only interested in seeing how we resolve the honor of the family.”
He approached as if to hit her. “What were you thinking stupid girl? Do you think that only you are important? My father and my mother will be shamed not only here but in America where all our businesses are. Do you think that this situation will not affect our family and business?”
Sonia began to cry. “Oh God, what have I done?” she thought troubled. She had never imagined that her brother would discover everything before finishing her plan. What would she do now? How could she warn Robert?
“And don’t bother trying to leave the house. I told the maids to be on the lookout. Especially Charlotte, I warned her not to try to help you or she will be out on the street.”
“Edward, please understand that I don’t want to get married. I did this out of desperation. If father wants to disinherit me because I am dishonored let him do so. I will go far away. Where I won’t embarrass him but don’t force me to marry anyone.”
“I know that you would be a good couple, Robert and you.”
“But I don’t love him!” Sonia shouted at him.
“You should have thought about it before you rolled around with him like a whore. Now go to your bedroom. You’ll both have an opportunity to speak.”
Sonia looked at him thinking how it was possible that this cruel and uncompromising being was her brother. She went up to her room and worried about what was coming.
Later, she saw Robert’s carriage through her window. Two employees in livery exited the carriage and one of them opened the door. Robert was dressed elegantly. He showed no trace of fear or being frightened at all.
Sonia wished he could see her through the window so she could signal him and that he would know what was really happening. Then he entered the house and she could only entrust herself to all the saints so that this would not end in misfortune.
Robert entered the study where Edward was waiting for him.
Edward was serious. “Well Wilmington, it seems that things are going better than we expected.”
“I would not say that exactly. They’re just going according to plan.”
“And now what’s going to happen?”
“I will talk to her and convince her that there’s no choice but for us to get married.”
“All right, I think it’s best to wait a bit in the study before going to talk to her. It would seem strange that you spent only a few minutes here talking to me.”
Sonia paced around her room thinking about everything her brother and Robert would be talking about. She didn’t want to get married and preferred to die before being tied to a man who would treat her as an ornament and make her suffer for the rest of her life. She didn’t care if it was Robert because any man would seem the same to her. She didn’t deny that she enjoyed making love with him and that he always made her feel special, but it was one thing to spend the night with him and another to live as husband and wife.
A knock on the door frightened her. “Come in.”
It was Charlotte. “Miss, they are waiting for you in the study.”
“Tell my brother and the marquess that I will be there in a moment.” When her maid left, Sonia prayed to heaven and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were slightly red because she had cried but she didn’t look bad. She fixed her appearance as best she could, pinched her cheeks to give some color to her face, and went down to meet her fate.
Edward sat while drinking a glass of brandy with Robert when Sonia entered.
“Good afternoon, Lord Wilmington.”
“Miss Hearst.”
“I do not think there is a need for such formality,” Edward said, “after all you already have a certain ... familiarity.”
Robert's eyes looked like they wanted to murder him. “That is a very inappropriate comment Mr. Hearst.” Robert looked at Sonia and offered his hand. She took it and he kissed the back of her hand. “I think we should talk.”
“If you like we can talk in the next room.”
When they were in the room, behind closed doors Sonia let out a sob. “What are we going to do Robert? You don’t want to marry a woman who does not love you and I don’t want to be forced into marriage.”
“Calm down, dear. There’s no need to cry. What we should do is think things through. It occurs to me that we can make a fictitious marriage.”
“Can that be done?” Sonia asked surprised.
“Of course,
