Chapter 5: No

By five on the morning of March ninth, every light in our house was on.

The motorcade was due at nine.

More than twenty black cars lined the street, and Guard officers held the gate.

Mother had not slept. She came into my room, sent the stylists out and locked the door behind them.

"Your life won't be bad with him, Linnet."

"Garrick may love Bridie, but he keeps his word. Whatever he promised you, you'll get."

I said nothing.

"If you stop this today, in front of the King and the cameras, the Ashworths and the Dunleavys are both finished."

"Your father's seat on the Council goes. Your brother's place at the Royal Academy next year goes with it."

It was not a plea.

It was a bill, and the whole family was the debt.

"Why does my marriage have to carry Father's career and my brother's future?" I asked.

Her jaw set.

"You don't understand alliances. The Ironridge Pack stands behind Garrick."

"If you shame him before the whole kingdom, they will not let it pass. It won't be you alone who pays."

Then she dropped to her knees in front of my chair.

"Linnet, I'm begging you. Do it for your brother."

I looked down at my mother on the floor.

In twenty-seven years she had never done that for me.

She had begged the healers for Bridie's life. She had gone door to door when Father lost his first bid for the Council.

Now she knelt for me, and it was not because of the five years I had spent waiting alone.

She was afraid I would break what they had built.

"Get up, Mother."

I bent to lift her.

She gripped my arm hard.

"Promise me first. Go through with it."

I did not answer.

A voice came through the door.

"Miss Ashworth, we need to start your face."

Mother wiped her eyes and stood and smoothed the collar of my robe.

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