"I do wish for the engagement to continue, but with — with Aurora instead of Barbara," Count Clarkson told her.
"This is absurd!" Susie answered instantly, snapping at him. Her face reddened from anger. "If the Count wants to cancel the engagement then be it, but he will not humiliate the Marquis' mansion by proposing such an absurd idea," she added coldly.
She knew that the whole situation was confusing since Barbara wasn't their real child but she could never allow Aurora to have something with the Count's son if the engagement between him and Barbara broke.
"The engagement was supposed to be between our children so I see no harm in returning everything to its normal state. If not for the switching between Barbara and Aurora, then our children should have been married already," he retorted.
Susie said, "I am still saying that the proposal is not negotiable. Barbara is your son's betrothed and the perfect bride for him. They grew up together and knew everything about each other."
She had witnessed how close Barbara was to her fiancé. It would be heartbreaking to separate them because of a simple matter.
"I got what Madam is saying but I am afraid the change in the Marquis' mansion will affect Barbara. The rumours circulating outside didn't start from nothingness. I have seen Lady Aurora's hand wrapped in gauze when I come," he stated, a mix of worrisome appeared on his face.
"I talked with Aurora who narrated the whole incident. Barbara has nothing to do with it. The rumours were called rumours for a reason," she stated, letting a small chuckle.
The count put the cup of tea on the table. "There was no smoke without fire. People changed when their lives were at stake. Perhaps Lady Barbara felt that Aurora was taking everything from her and she wanted to teach her a lesson—"
"Count Clarkson! You are overstepping your boundaries," Susie interrupted him. Anger rose in her chest feeling the audacity from the count.
She was the one who raised Barbara. Perhaps she was firm, but she did that for her sake. Barbara was a gem in their kingdom and she never did anything wrong!
"I apologize for my speech. I am just worried about my son. Parents keep worrying about their children all the time and we will never accept someone hurting them. I know very well because Richard and Jade are everything in my life and the same thing for Madam Reylson," the count apologized.
Susie wanted to retort, but the maid informed her about her husband's return. She excused herself. As she stood up, the Count voiced out.
"I hope Madam Reylson think about my proposal," he said, handing her a letter.
Susie's heart raced as she laid eyes on the letter sealed with her husband's personal seal. The slight frown on her face deepened as she carefully pried it open. Her surprise was palpable as she read the familiar handwriting—her daughter Aurora's—addressed to none other than Richard. A surge of worry overtook her as she pondered about the reason. Just as she heard footsteps approaching, she quickly concealed the letter behind her back and smiled waiting for her husband.
"Count Clarkson," Bernat greeted, walking to their side.
Susie bid her farewell to the guest and gracefully exited, her mind filled with thoughts about her daughter's unruly act. She couldn't understand why Aurora had acted in such a way and didn't even bother to consider her opinion. As she paced through the halls, replaying Aurora's reaction to Richard's entrance in her mind, Susie came to a sudden halt.
'This couldn't be!'
She retraced her steps and made her way to the garden. Upon reaching its entry, her eyes landed on Barbara engrossed in a conversation with Richard, while her daughter Aurora stood alone at a distance, quietly observing the interaction. Susie felt a pang of heartache as she noticed the pained expression in Aurora's eyes, tapping her chest to calm her inner turmoil.
'Aurora! Don't, please don't!' she begged, her heart thumping from fear. Seeing Aurora intending to leave, she strode away directly to her room. When she entered, she threw her heavy body on the sofa and leaned on it. The count's words echoed in her head that she didn't know what to do anymore. Barbara could never hurt anyone; the count was spouting nonsense to mislead her.
Susie sighed, the certainty she had earlier was melting as doubt rose in her chest. She closed her eyes and convinced herself that the idea appeared because of her over-protectiveness to her daughter, since she had found her after eighteen years, she could not allow anyone to take her daughter from her again.
Aurora's sad face appeared in her head, making her settled thoughts turn chaotic. Her daughter clearly liked Richard. The look on her face watching Barbara with him was the same for someone who lost someone dear. Susie wondered when that happened. Aurora stayed with them for nearly a month. 'How could she have those emotions in a short period?' she thought, hoping that it was not a permanent feeling and would vanish as time went by.
Susie threw the letter in the fire, changed into a nightgown and lay on her bed. She kept tossing and turning unable to get a wink of sleep. The door to her chamber was opened and Bernat came in.
"Are you ill?" he asked, sitting beside her, touching her forehead with his.
"I am not ill. I am just tired and want to rest," she replied, caressing his face.
Bernat took her hand in his and tightened his grip. "But you didn't have dinner. It is not healthy to skip your meals," he said.
"I do have no appetite. Tell me what you talked with Count Clarkson?" she asked, sitting on her bed. She waited anxiously for an answer afraid that the Count could have said the same proposal he suggested.
"Nothing beyond work," he answered, and she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Bernat," she called, and he gazed at her. "S—since t—the engagement between our manor and the Count's, then the one who would be betrothed to Richard is Aurora, not Barbara," she stuttered.
"I see. You are obviously ill. I have to notify the physician. You are hallucinating," Bernat said, standing up.
Susie grabbed his hand to stop him from calling a physician and said, "I am fine. I just thought of it and wanted to see your opinion."
Bernat sat beside her and hugged her. "Su, don't think about irrelevant things anymore. Barbara is Richard's fiancé and will be his wife in a few months away. Then we will find a good man for Aurora to start her own family. The two will have many children and…"
Susie calmed in her husband's embrace, listening to his soothing voice, her troubled heart eased a bit. However, she wouldn't shake the unease she was having.
What would she choose if she had to? To shatter her daughter's heart or Barbara's?