Ford had never respected her, Verity realized with a stunningly disappointing clarity. Even when she sacrificed justice in favor of her family being ruined. (He had to have known, even then, that she hadn't been left whole after her kidnapping. He had to have realized what had happened to her.) Even when she didn't once question the fact that there had been no dowry paid for her. (None? Verity still remembered asking in a stunned whisper to Everett in the early days of their marriage.) Ford saw her only as his nuisance of a sister, the one he detested the most and was glad to be rid of.
He further proved his disrespect in each of his actions. His refusal to extend his arm, the way the door barely stayed open long enough for her to slip through. She fumed silently, her hands trembling with rage at the audacity of her brother. It wasn't enough for him to treat her with such malice, he'd gone and done it to Clementine and Grace as well. (Grace! As though the poor thing had any chance of marrying without a scandal attached to her name!)
Verity considered ignoring his question altgoether. He had to know what was being spoken was bad if she was raging at him like this. The pair had barely spoken in years, and nothing meaningful since her breakdown in the dining room. It would have served him right to stew over what tomorrow would bring. She ought to have too, except Verity still remembered the fear of whispers that consumed her in the days following her kidnapping. And, idiotic lunatic that he was, she wouldn't do that to her brother.
"It's bad, Ford." Verity said without looking at him. The slush made the bottom of her dress heavy, and her pace visibly slowed to accomodate the extra weight. "It's as bad as you can imagine." He was going to have to marry Miss Farley, otherwise she would be utterly ruined. Either that, or Ford was a careless rake and their family would suffer as a result.
He further proved his disrespect in each of his actions. His refusal to extend his arm, the way the door barely stayed open long enough for her to slip through. She fumed silently, her hands trembling with rage at the audacity of her brother. It wasn't enough for him to treat her with such malice, he'd gone and done it to Clementine and Grace as well. (Grace! As though the poor thing had any chance of marrying without a scandal attached to her name!)
Verity considered ignoring his question altgoether. He had to know what was being spoken was bad if she was raging at him like this. The pair had barely spoken in years, and nothing meaningful since her breakdown in the dining room. It would have served him right to stew over what tomorrow would bring. She ought to have too, except Verity still remembered the fear of whispers that consumed her in the days following her kidnapping. And, idiotic lunatic that he was, she wouldn't do that to her brother.
"It's bad, Ford." Verity said without looking at him. The slush made the bottom of her dress heavy, and her pace visibly slowed to accomodate the extra weight. "It's as bad as you can imagine." He was going to have to marry Miss Farley, otherwise she would be utterly ruined. Either that, or Ford was a careless rake and their family would suffer as a result.
set by mj