It fit like a glove, and Faustus grinned as the ring slid onto her finger as if it had merely been missing for a short period of time. Perfect.
But then he caught the glimmer of nervousness that flitted across her face. Ah, her dowry. Yes, he knew very well about what had happened to her dowry. He would usually be able to keep his composure as she told him, but here, feeling her nervousness at this confession it was that his expression darkened, a frown tugging at his lips.
Once Faustus had declared his intentions to the Bagshots and asked them permission to marry her, they’d been delighted of course but underneath that happiness ran a current of apprehension. It was soon after that they’d disclosed the full story - of course with tact and full transparency, but Mrs. Bagshot did not hesitate to make her biases known. To her it was plain and simple. Marie had been stolen from, cruelly and without mercy by her Uncle. But the end Mrs. Bagshot had been almost vibrating with fury at the injustice Marie had suffered.
Faustus, having dealt with many a case where families were stolen from, did not begrudge her her anger. Indeed he was rather incensed himself, and made a mental note to look further into it once he’d returned to work. Regardless of Marie’s answer to his proposal, he would track down Gabriel Skovgaard and find a way to make him pay.
“I’m well aware of what has been stolen from you, Marie,” he said, his tone only cooler to contain the rage that had suddenly sparked in him as he remembered being told. His gaze shifted back to her, determined now as he held her hands and lifted one to press his lips against her knuckles. “I know the full story. You needn’t worry about me,” He smiled softly. “There are perks to coming from a family like mine.” He was not a habitually extravagant man by any means, but knew the value of his family’s security and comfort meant that Marie would be able to seamlessly join them and it would barely be a drop in the bucket.
But her lack of money to join his family’s wealth was never the reason for his ire. No, it was how cheated of her birthright she had been, and how swiftly it had been taken from her. “Your lack of a dowry was never of concern, Marie.” He said softly, furrowing his brow. “I find myself enraged on your behalf at what you went through.” And I swear I will make him pay.
But then he caught the glimmer of nervousness that flitted across her face. Ah, her dowry. Yes, he knew very well about what had happened to her dowry. He would usually be able to keep his composure as she told him, but here, feeling her nervousness at this confession it was that his expression darkened, a frown tugging at his lips.
Once Faustus had declared his intentions to the Bagshots and asked them permission to marry her, they’d been delighted of course but underneath that happiness ran a current of apprehension. It was soon after that they’d disclosed the full story - of course with tact and full transparency, but Mrs. Bagshot did not hesitate to make her biases known. To her it was plain and simple. Marie had been stolen from, cruelly and without mercy by her Uncle. But the end Mrs. Bagshot had been almost vibrating with fury at the injustice Marie had suffered.
Faustus, having dealt with many a case where families were stolen from, did not begrudge her her anger. Indeed he was rather incensed himself, and made a mental note to look further into it once he’d returned to work. Regardless of Marie’s answer to his proposal, he would track down Gabriel Skovgaard and find a way to make him pay.
“I’m well aware of what has been stolen from you, Marie,” he said, his tone only cooler to contain the rage that had suddenly sparked in him as he remembered being told. His gaze shifted back to her, determined now as he held her hands and lifted one to press his lips against her knuckles. “I know the full story. You needn’t worry about me,” He smiled softly. “There are perks to coming from a family like mine.” He was not a habitually extravagant man by any means, but knew the value of his family’s security and comfort meant that Marie would be able to seamlessly join them and it would barely be a drop in the bucket.
But her lack of money to join his family’s wealth was never the reason for his ire. No, it was how cheated of her birthright she had been, and how swiftly it had been taken from her. “Your lack of a dowry was never of concern, Marie.” He said softly, furrowing his brow. “I find myself enraged on your behalf at what you went through.” And I swear I will make him pay.