Cartwright."
"Let us simply go back to being only cousins, sir. It is better that way for the both of us."
"The breach of betrothal will be finalized on Wednesday, madam. I will write you as soon as it is settled."
"Thank you, sir." With that, he went to speak with her father, and she remained in her chair, watching her sister dance with her new husband.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"What is this I have heard about a breach of betrothal?" Mrs. Cartwright started severely. It was the day after the reception, and Mr. Cartwright had just informed her of the news he had gotten from Mr. Campbell.
"I cannot tell you what you have heard, mama," Imogene replied snidely. "Perhaps if you told me what you have heard, then I can answer your question."
Mr. Cartwright gave his daughter a gentle caution with his eyes, warning her that showing such attitude to her mother would not be wise at that time.
Though Mrs. Cartwright was already in such a temper that any tone of voice was lost in her thoughts. "Your father has informed me that Mr. Campbell is arranging for a breach of betrothal with you."
Imogene maintained her dark mood, coolly replying, "And who did father hear that news from?"
"Mr. Campbell."
"If Mr. Campbell said it himself, then it must be true. What more do you need to hear, mother?"
"It was your doing, was it not, Imogene?"
"It was a mutual scheme, mother; it would not be legal otherwise."
"But you drove him to accept the idea!"
"I drove him? I drove him ?" Imogene could not speak further, for she knew all in the room would regret it if she did.
"And I suppose after such humiliation as you have created upon yourself, there is no hope of him returning to the idea. I shall have to find someone else. It is embarrassing enough that Emmeline has married before her elder sister; someone new must be found soon before rumors begin. Both Mr. Coles are bachelors, are they not? And reasonably well-off..."
"Mother!" Not that Imogene was entirely opposed to thinking of Mr. Phillip as a prospective husband, but she would be cruelly humiliated if her mother went to him to suggest a betrothal.
"Mr. Cartwright, write to Mr. Cole in the country and invite him to supper as soon as ever he may come."
At the mention of the elder Mr. Cole, Imogene flashed her father a look, pleading desperately for help. He immediately obliged his daughter, "You cannot mean Mr. Henry Cole, my dear. You mean Mr. Phillip Cole who lives in town, of course."
"No indeed. The elder Mr. Cole has the greater division of the property and finances. Though now I think of it, never mind writing him. He has already been invited to attend the assembly at the end of the week."
Imogene bowed her head into her hands. Her mother would be dropping hints to Mr. Cole about betrothal all night long, and in the company of dozens of other people—including Mr. Phillip. But after a deep breath, she began to relax. After all, Mr. Cole would not possibly want to accept such a scheme.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For that week, Imogene did nothing but pour over her lines and rehearse for the play. She rarely saw Emmeline who was always with her new husband, shopping and preparing for the move to their new home. Imogene kept to her room for the most part, feeling that her sister had been stolen from her, but knew very well there was nothing she could do about it. She was tired of the feeling, thinking herself selfish and immature, but she could not help it. Her letter from Mr. Campbell granted her a slightly better mood, now knowing that all was settled and they were back to being no more than cousins.
The assembly took place in the city where they could use a more spacious room, appropriate for their play
"Let us simply go back to being only cousins, sir. It is better that way for the both of us."
"The breach of betrothal will be finalized on Wednesday, madam. I will write you as soon as it is settled."
"Thank you, sir." With that, he went to speak with her father, and she remained in her chair, watching her sister dance with her new husband.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"What is this I have heard about a breach of betrothal?" Mrs. Cartwright started severely. It was the day after the reception, and Mr. Cartwright had just informed her of the news he had gotten from Mr. Campbell.
"I cannot tell you what you have heard, mama," Imogene replied snidely. "Perhaps if you told me what you have heard, then I can answer your question."
Mr. Cartwright gave his daughter a gentle caution with his eyes, warning her that showing such attitude to her mother would not be wise at that time.
Though Mrs. Cartwright was already in such a temper that any tone of voice was lost in her thoughts. "Your father has informed me that Mr. Campbell is arranging for a breach of betrothal with you."
Imogene maintained her dark mood, coolly replying, "And who did father hear that news from?"
"Mr. Campbell."
"If Mr. Campbell said it himself, then it must be true. What more do you need to hear, mother?"
"It was your doing, was it not, Imogene?"
"It was a mutual scheme, mother; it would not be legal otherwise."
"But you drove him to accept the idea!"
"I drove him? I drove him ?" Imogene could not speak further, for she knew all in the room would regret it if she did.
"And I suppose after such humiliation as you have created upon yourself, there is no hope of him returning to the idea. I shall have to find someone else. It is embarrassing enough that Emmeline has married before her elder sister; someone new must be found soon before rumors begin. Both Mr. Coles are bachelors, are they not? And reasonably well-off..."
"Mother!" Not that Imogene was entirely opposed to thinking of Mr. Phillip as a prospective husband, but she would be cruelly humiliated if her mother went to him to suggest a betrothal.
"Mr. Cartwright, write to Mr. Cole in the country and invite him to supper as soon as ever he may come."
At the mention of the elder Mr. Cole, Imogene flashed her father a look, pleading desperately for help. He immediately obliged his daughter, "You cannot mean Mr. Henry Cole, my dear. You mean Mr. Phillip Cole who lives in town, of course."
"No indeed. The elder Mr. Cole has the greater division of the property and finances. Though now I think of it, never mind writing him. He has already been invited to attend the assembly at the end of the week."
Imogene bowed her head into her hands. Her mother would be dropping hints to Mr. Cole about betrothal all night long, and in the company of dozens of other people—including Mr. Phillip. But after a deep breath, she began to relax. After all, Mr. Cole would not possibly want to accept such a scheme.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For that week, Imogene did nothing but pour over her lines and rehearse for the play. She rarely saw Emmeline who was always with her new husband, shopping and preparing for the move to their new home. Imogene kept to her room for the most part, feeling that her sister had been stolen from her, but knew very well there was nothing she could do about it. She was tired of the feeling, thinking herself selfish and immature, but she could not help it. Her letter from Mr. Campbell granted her a slightly better mood, now knowing that all was settled and they were back to being no more than cousins.
The assembly took place in the city where they could use a more spacious room, appropriate for their play
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