It would have been easier if Tiberius had said she couldn't depend on an offer from Mr. Macmillan. At least then the choice would be removed, she could accept Valerian, and get about plotting revenge on Macmillan for wasting months of her life.
"Choice," she laughed, though there was no real humour to it. Choice was something so often denied women—and in some cases, even men. Five years ago, she would have relished this opportunity: two bachelors of merit each (probably) willing to make her Mrs. Fill-in-the-Blank—and the decision entirely within her own hands. For her entire life, Tatiana had wanted control, wanted power and yet, now that she had it, she wished most ardently to abdicate it.
"Charles Macmillan would marry the idea of me," Tatiana thought aloud. She was not dismayed by this prospect, for she was entirely interested in the idea of him in turn. "Valerian..."
Valerian had said something to the effect of her being his template for a future wife. Was that really so different, even with their shared upbringing.
"Charles has ambitions. Valerian, if he does, keeps them quiet."
"Choice," she laughed, though there was no real humour to it. Choice was something so often denied women—and in some cases, even men. Five years ago, she would have relished this opportunity: two bachelors of merit each (probably) willing to make her Mrs. Fill-in-the-Blank—and the decision entirely within her own hands. For her entire life, Tatiana had wanted control, wanted power and yet, now that she had it, she wished most ardently to abdicate it.
"Charles Macmillan would marry the idea of me," Tatiana thought aloud. She was not dismayed by this prospect, for she was entirely interested in the idea of him in turn. "Valerian..."
Valerian had said something to the effect of her being his template for a future wife. Was that really so different, even with their shared upbringing.
"Charles has ambitions. Valerian, if he does, keeps them quiet."
— graphics by mj ❤ —