"I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WITNESSED THE EVENTS FROM LAST NIGHT, but I would rather stay out of it." Daniel shrugged. "It should be a family matter between the Flocks and the Kalwens."
"I would like to be there for Florence," Magnolia said.
"Honestly, love, she was the one who made this whole mess," he told her. "Henry has sworn to me that there is nothing between them."
Magnolia was silent. She had suspected that the whole thing was orchestrated by her friend, especially after witnessing Henry's reaction. But she could not bring herself to reprimand Florence. She knew that she was desperate.
Of course, involving Henry like she did was wrong, but sometimes desperation blinds people. She sighed.
"Mama, Papa, look." Geoffrey ran toward them while holding a little white puppy.
"Oh my, who is this?" Magnolia asked as she crouched to take a closer look. Daniel did the same.
"His name is Ben, can I play with him?" Geoffrey's eyes sparkled.
"As long as you are gentle," Magnolia told him. "He is just a baby."
"The Kalwens have a few puppies," Lady Green explained. "They said that if any of the children wanted to adopt one, it could be arranged."
"Oh, can I?" Geoffrey asked, looking from Magnolia to Daniel.
"I think that would be great." Daniel smiled. "Do you think you can take care of him? It is not an easy task."
Geoffrey blinked at him a few times. "What do I need to do?"
"You will need to feed him, bathe him, train him, and of course play with him," Daniel said.
"I can do all those things." The boy beamed, his joy was contagious as a big smile tugged on both Magnolia and Daniel's lips. "Yay! I'll go back to play with the others now."
He ran toward the group of children who were playing with the other dogs. Lady Green followed closely behind him.
"I guess we are getting a puppy." Magnolia giggled.
They both walked toward the castle where the meeting was to take place. Daniel complained a bit more about not wanting to attend, but he still did.
They entered the sitting room where Florence and her family were already there. The room was silent and the tension was palpable.
"Lord Kalwen, Lady Kalwen," Magnolia greeted.
"Thank you for joining us, Your Graces," the dowager countess said. "I am sure there won't be any issues, but your presence is reassuring."
"Rest assured, my lady," Daniel told her. "The Flocks are a very honorable family." She did not answer.
Magnolia walked to the settee where Florence was and sat next to her while Daniel took the armchair by Richard.
"Would you like a glass of brandy?" Richard asked as he pushed to his feet.
"A little too early in the day, don't you think?" It was early afternoon.
The earl did not answer, he continued to the table in the corner and poured himself a glass.
"I'm afraid if I don't have a glass, I'll do something I might regret later," Richard finally responded while looking at his sister. She flinched.
The room was silent again, except for the earl's steps back to his seat.
"Marquis Galley is here," a maid announced.
"What?" Florence was surprised. "Why is he here, Mother?" she hissed. But the dowager countess did not even look her way.
"Ladies, Gentlemen," the marquis greeted as his eyes lingered on Florence.
"Lord Galley, courteous of you to join us." Lady Kalwen smiled.
"Of course, my lady." He sat next to her. "I was promised Lady Kalwen's hand after all."
Florence's eyes widened. 'She promised him my hand before discussing it with me?'
Her hand shook at the realization.
'Did she call him here because she still wants me to marry him?'
Magnolia noticed her friend's state, she reached over and held her hand.
Florence looked over to her brother. Surely, he disagreed with whatever their mother was trying to do. He told Henry that he could not get out of this without marrying her. But when she looked at Richard, there was a nonchalant look on his face.
'Does he not care?'
A laugh escaped her mouth, drawing everyone's attention. She laughed at the pathetic situation she was in. Was she so insignificant that she did not even have a say in all this?
"Have you gone mad?" Lady Kalwen asked her daughter.
"Maybe," Florence answered. "You are driving me mad, Mother."
"You have done this to yourself." Her mother's voice was hard without any hint of compassion. "I did not raise you to be a loose woman," she added. The dowager countess' words were so harsh they shocked everyone in the room.
Florence watched her with parted lips. 'How could she say that to me in front of my friends and in front of that man?'
She felt tears prick the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away.
"Come now, my lady," Lord Galley told her mother. "Everyone makes mistakes in life, we just need to find it in ourselves to forgive them." He threw Florence a suggestive smile that made her stomach turn.
"You have a very kind heart, Lord Galley," the dowager countess told him, which made Florence even more disgusted.
'Maybe you should marry him, Mother.'
The thought amused her a bit in the midst of the miserable situation she was in.
She smiled.
"I wonder how rich you are, my lord," Florence uttered, not even worried about the consequences of her words anymore. "It appears my mother is ready to sell her own daughter for your riches."
"Florence," Richard roared.
"Oh, you remember my name, Brother." She tilted her head to the side. "I thought you had forgotten you had a sister that you promised our dead father to protect." Her tone was cold. Richard could not utter a word in response.
"That is enough," Lady Kalwen ordered. "You do not get to speak. Do you have any idea about the rumors your actions have started?" she scolded. "You shall not speak unless spoken to, do I make myself clear?"
Florence's whole body was shaking with emotions.
"Marquise of Corossa and Lord Flock are here," the maid announced as she opened the door for them.