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Oh for the love of Christ

"I don’t see how that’s--

"And she’s pretty!" Radcliffe shakes his head like it’s a catastrophe And all my fault "Terribly pretty!"

Norfolk narrows his eyes "Yes, pity, that"

"If you were ugly or more masculine in countenance, then maybe" Tweedledurees

"It’s the only solution," someone--I don’t knohich one--says

"As soon as possible"

"Absolutely"

"No other option"

"Married"

"Married

"Married!"

The word echoes inplans waft away in a puff of s out

"Butbut I have charts!"

And the rooree with ht for Alfie and Thoy, stubborn--they’re oldwith their old- this The utter disregard The dis more than pretty mortar, to be used to shore up the bricks of alliances Only this time it’s the alliance with our own Parlia

Alfie looks atto cut them all down on

"Excuse me, Ineed a moment"

I walk out the door and down the hall to the washroom I rinse my hands with ice-cold water and press a wet cloth to my face And then I stare at my own eyes in the mirror

And I will myself to become steel Coated inside and out Even if just for a little while Cold, hard, undentable--nothing can hurt steel; you can pound your fist against it a thousand times and all you’ll have to show is a wounded hand

There’s a knock on the door When I open it, Tholasses worriedly "Are you all right?"

My knees tremble beneath my skirt, but it’s not from upset

"They think I’m weak All of theirl"

Thomas looks ashamed of the entire male species

"They do"

I look up into his eyes

"Then it’s ti," I say

He stares at leam rises in his eyes and a sht Let’s do that"

He gestures for h the door

They all stand when I enter But now I know it’s just for show The pageantry of respect

"Please, my Lordssit"