"Trash," Georges said dismissively as he shut the door.
"They are my family," I said, trying without success to keep the quiver out of my voice.
"Gutter trash," Georges said.
I moved past him, reaching for the door. Jasyn and Darus were here. I couldn't let them leave. I'd seen the questions in their eyes. I couldn't let them believe this was what I had become. Georges clamped his hand on my arm, stopping me.
"They are unsuitable companions for someone of your station."
"What station?" I threw it in his face. "I'm unsuited to marry Vance. Let me go, Georges. I'll walk out the door and never come back."
"It's too late for that," Lady Candyce said behind me.
I shook off George's hand. Lady Candyce was in the hallway that led deeper into the house.
"Vance insists on marrying you, despite your shortcomings. However unsuitable you may be, I cannot change his mind."
"And do I have a choice in the matter?"
"No." It was flat, final.
I lifted my chin. "I'll leave. You'll never see or hear from me again."
"I can't trust you to keep that promise. I will not allow you to embarrass my son further. You will stay and marry him. It is too late to change your mind." She turned away.
"Then I want my family at the wedding."
She turned deliberately back around to face me. "If that was your family, I think not. I will find you a much more suitable family if you wish one at your wedding."
She swept away down the hall. I stared after her in disbelief. Her sheer arrogance stunned me, although it shouldn't have. I wondered briefly how she would deal with the fact that I couldn't have children. She'd find a baby somewhere and make it mine.
Except I wasn't supposed to live that long. I shuddered as Georges took my arm again.
"You're distraught," he said. "You should lie down and rest."
It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order. His hand was like iron around my arm. I could fight him off and run after Jasyn. I could leave with her. I twisted in his grip.
The flitter lifted outside. I gave up. I would never be free. Georges's grip didn't loosen. He dragged me up the stairs and locked me into my rooms.
I ran into the bedroom, past the profusion of pink flowers. I stared out the window, straining for a glimpse of the flitter. My window faced the wrong direction. I collapsed slowly to my knees in front of the window.
They'd come to find me. I closed my eyes, trying to banish the questioning look I'd seen in Jasyn's eyes. It had been too long. Maybe I had changed too much. She hadn't recognized me at first. But I'd known her. And Darus. My father had come for me. And he'd turned away from me. They'd left me here. I pressed my cheek to the glass of the window. Tears slipped free, blurring my vision.
They believed I was marrying Vance. They believed I had chosen this life. And if they believed it, there was no hope Tayvis wouldn't believe it. I'd been trapped into living a lie that had somehow turned into truth. I'd lost everything and gained nothing but pain.
Vance's mother wasn't involved in anything. There was no evidence to find. I'd been used. I was a decoy. I was expendable. No one would come for me. No one would believe this wasn't my choice.
And when I died in an accident arranged by Georges, no one would question it.
Even at the darkest, there had always been hope before. I had always had the knowledge that somewhere there were people who believed in me and trusted me. Not now. I was alone.
I slumped against the window and gave in to despair.