1 month later....
"I can't marry him?" Tempest echoed feeling faint.
Her mother paced back and forth; had whispered it with conviction weeks after she had met Justin. Tempest thought it was due to him being unknown to the peerage. A new face with a newly acquired title seemed at times to run the gambit with their fortune only to squander it mindlessly until they turn penniless. She figured her mother did not want that for her as she argued it will not happen to him.
She had thought her mother would change her mind and reconsider. But it was not so. She adamantly stood by her decision and warned Tempest to not utter a word of it to her father.
She had broken into a cold sweat after her mother insisted on her forgetting about Justin. Sadly, her mother will never accept their union. Her gaze blurred with tears as her ears grew hot with her mother's words, her vulgar opinion of Justin, and it appalled her.
"You do not know him," Tempest shook her head in protest.
"I know enough. I know of his kind and I will not see you involved with him," her mother stepped forward.
Blue-green eyes as cold as ice mirrored her own that was filled with disbelief and pain.
"Mother...please I beg you to reconsider. I want to marry him," she pleaded.
"My decision is already made."
"But he is returning to post the bans for the wedding you have already agreed to it," she dashed away her tears.
"Arrangements can be broken," agitated, her mother turned to face her.
"You are to gather your things. You leave tomorrow night."
Her head lifted in shock to stare at her mother. "Where am I going?" her throat tightened.
Frantically, her mother searched for the words in her head. She had not thought it through but she was determined to get Tempest out of London.
"What about father, has he agreed to this as well?"
"The less he knows, the better. He does not need this type of worry during his voyage. I suggest you keep that in mind," she stopped to give a warning glare at Tempest.
"Please mother!, If you would discuss this with father, maybe--," she began.
"There is no discussion necessary," her mother came back swiftly. "Mayhap if we are quick about this, we may find you another suitor. Someone worthy of your station." her mother paced with contemplation burning in her eyes.
"You can not do this. I will not-," Tempest shook her head, aghast, her aqua green eyes filled with disbelief on her pale face.
"I am your mother and you will do exactly as I say if you know what is good for you." her mother turned to face her.
Her mother looked at her, completely unmoved by the pain she could see on Tempest's face.
She dashed away a tear, her throat moving conclusively before she spoke again. "My father will never agree to this."
"The choice is not your father's but mine." She snapped dismissively.
"If you refuse to do as I say, I will do everything in my power to destroy Justin O'Shae." Her mother's voice was casual. Implacable.
It was not an idle threat. The cruelness of her mother's words held their weight because it was her mother who spoke them after all. Her cruel, ruthless mother.
"I expect you to be ready for when we depart."
She took a long-lasting hard look at Tempest and departed.
YOU ARE READING
Tempest's Embrace
Historical Fiction"Free me and I will save you," he promised. ~*~*~*~*~ A Pirate in peril... Pirate Justin O'Shea is finally captured by his enemy, he had no choice but to sit and wait for his men to come to his aid. But, when his captor decides to bring aboard cap...
