A Groom

Penny inhaled a deep breath. Her lungs lacked oxygen when she sat with those girls. She didn't need to read their thoughts to know they were disgusted by her.

For the world, she was a cold rude girl with no awareness of her position. Her parents had died and her uncle and aunt were trying their best to give her a good life but she did not appreciate it. 

Her attire today confirms the rumors. They would only see what they wanted to. Even if she screamed and announced that she was tormented by her family and the runoes were lying. No one would believe her.

Roaming in the empty corridors, she reached the dark balcony. She knew no one would come to this part of the manor. She stood there and let the cold wind freeze her to her bones. This was the only escape from her wretched life. She closed her eyes and held the railing tightly. 

How much time had passed when her heart calmed down. She must return to the party! Return to those beasts dressed as nobles or her aunt would lock her in the basement for tonight. 

But she had only taken a footsteps when she heard voices. She hid behind the wall instinctively when she recognized the voice. Even if she would die, she could never forget this voice and the fear it evoked in her.

"I am trying my best but marrying her is never easy. A lot of good families are still interested in her and I could not refuse them without solid reason." she frowned as her uncle's voice sounded pleading. Who was he begging to?

After becoming the marquis, the position that should have belonged to her father, the man had never even bowed her head, much less pleading with someone. 

She strained her ears to hear more while covering her mouth with her hands to not create any noise accidentally. They were talking about her marriage or Gabriel's?

"Tell them she had lost her mind. No one would marry an imbecile if she had a good inheritance." the man laughed coldly. The voice was dark, husky and her gut wrenched just hearing the voice. She gulped! She never knew she had an inheritance?

Didn't her uncle take everything that belonged to her father?

"Your grace! No one would believe she is insane." her uncle looked desperate. "But if you intervene.." the man sounded hopeful only to earn another mocking laughter.

"Oh christian! You want me to announce to the world to not marry your niece because you want her to marry a lower degraded noble. So that you can control her inheritance and wealth all your life! Would it not be better to marry her to Gabriel then?" the man spoke in such a soft voice as if he was whispering prayers.

Penny shivered with anger and humiliation. Gabriel was his cousin. They had the same blood! How could he even think of that?

"Tell them that she was the one to cross the line and you have no choice. No one would care about a stained woman anyway." nails dug into her skin when he laughed. She wanted to lean and see who he was. But at the same time she was afraid of being caught.

They not only want to sell her but make sure that she would be ruined before that!

"I do not want to drag my son!" her uncle announced his courage. "I think baron Moor or viscount Quintus, any would do. As long as they keep her alive, I do not care how she lives." the man hummed at the suggestion of her uncle. 

"As long as you provide me with half the inheritance, I do not care who she got married to! I will complete my part of the deal." the voice sounded distant. She heard them walking away and even if she strained her ears, she could not hear them anymore.

Penny gasped as air locked her body again. Her face looked ashen as if someone had sucked all her blood. 

She breathed hard and her eyes started to sting. She dug her nails deep into her skin.

"I would never let that happen!" she would claim that inheritance of hers and leave! 

With a new fire in her eyes, she turned to the party. She found her aunt in the corridor searching for something. When her eyes felt on Penny, she took a breath of relief and then she glared at Penny.

She took quick steps toward Penny and held her hands. Making sure that all her nails dug into Penny's skin.

"I have not yet slapped you because I am afraid that would create a scene. But do not test my patience. Leave the party once again and I will show you what real hell is!" She eyes Penny with a threat looming in her eyes. "Now, return there, smile at the guests and dance. Will you? I have arranged many special partners for you!" she did not wait for a response as she dragged Penny back into the room.

Her grip loosened and turned into an intimate touch as they crossed the door and returned to the public. Many were watching her. She could feel eyes burning her back. 

The words she had heard in the dark corridors kept echoing in her heart. She was to marry a lower degraded noble so that they could control her inheritance. Marriage must decide her inheritance!

She needed a man! A man that would not follow their wish but hers! Someone who she could control and claim her inheritance and this.. Was her chance to find a man. 

Penny raised her head and stared at her aunt. Who was smiling sweetly now. Her eyes had a sly look and before her aunt could stop, she jerked her aunt's hand away and went to the man who held most power in the room.

"Your grace, may I have my first dance with you?"