That same evening, in an estate outside of Laveny, Enora Montgomery Stewart stood at a window, watching the large retreating figure of her suitor on horseback. Feeling the upward curve of her lips, and realizing what it would mean if her father saw it, she swallowed and made her face indifferent again.

"What did you do to him?" her father demanded from behind her. "Sir Handel wanted to marry you. I know he did because I spoke to him for a good hour before he came in here to meet you."

Enora turned halfway and perched on the ledge of the window with one leg raised, her dainty slippered foot swinging in the air. She rested her hand on the cool glass as she continued to look out across the now empty stone courtyard that led to the main road. She could still see the dust his horse had stirred up, floating in the warm summer air.

"I do not know, Father," she said, glancing over at him with wide eyes. She took in his rigid stance as he stood in the middle of their opulent sitting room, his dark somber clothing contrasting with the floral furniture around him.

Her mother had loved flowers and had loved this room.

She sighed, pushing thoughts of her away. "We talked of nothing, really. I mentioned the weather, flowers..." Her hands opened to gesture at the arrangements of blooms around the room, their scent filling the space. ".... scent.... all the topics you told me to speak of. And then suddenly he felt ill, violently ill, and rushed out."

Her father groaned. "He was number seventy-one. Seventy-one, Enora." He sighed, letting the exaggerated sound fill the room before continuing. "His land is not far from here and within the borders of the Seventh Kingdom. We would have remained close to your mother's ancestral lands. And he wanted you for you, not for your money." He let the words sink in, before repeating, "He wanted you."

"He was interested in my face, instead of my wealth," she scoffed. "How very reassuring. Besides, you seem to forget that if I don't marry, Father, we can remain even closer," she said blinking innocent eyes at him.

"You know that's not possible."

"But it is. If I remain unmarried by my twenty-second birthday, the Queen declared I can be independent. It is the same for all women throughout the Seven Kingdoms. I can make my own choices and live where I see fit, using the money mother left me," she paused. "That includes continuing to live here with you, Father if we both see fit."

"Enora, you know that is not possible. This home now belongs to your brother and when he marries, there will be no place for us."

"Only because of your ridiculous dislike for Baron."

"Your brother's friend," he said with disgust, "will leave this house once your brother marries and I will not surround myself with squawking hens. Two women, who are not servants but of the gentry, cannot live peacefully under the same roof."

Enora shook her head but said nothing in response as she rose from her seated position and swept across the room, the hideous yellow silk dress she wore swishing at her ankles. "Pardon me, Father, but I must go prepare for my birthday celebration next week. Twenty-two years. It is a very momentous occasion for me."

The heavy paneled door in front of her slammed shut just as she reached it, the sound reverberating around the room. Her stomach tensed as she turned to her father to see his hands still hovering out in front of him. She hated when he used his gifts this way.

"You could have asked me to stop without being so dramatic," she said, sounding nonchalant, but all the while the unease continued to grow inside her. She'd seen his bad side on more than one occasion and did not wish to see it at close quarters again.

"You don't listen otherwise."

He waved his fingers, and the upholstered armchair in the corner slid slowly across the plank flooring toward her, coming to a stop as it jutted against the back of her knees.

"Sit down," he ordered.

When she remained standing, a gust of strong wind, created with a flick of his fingers, had her falling back heavily onto the cushioned seat.

"Don't waste your time, Enora, with silly plans. For you will be long gone by then and the disappointment of not seeing them come to fruition will make you bitter."

He breathed in deeply through his nose and she saw the rise and fall of his chest. "Prepare instead for another suitor tomorrow at noon." He stiffened, standing even taller. "He is not ideal, but we have run out of options. I've presented you with many more polished men, but I am sorry that it has come to this. He is our very last hope before you reach the age of self-governance."

And it was high time she reached it. By Beelzebub... Since turning eighteen, she had endured this never-ending stream of suitors and it exhausted her. "Fine. Bring him along and let's get this over and done with. I have an event to plan."

He ignored her words, crossing instead to the window. "We still have five days. He should arrive by tomorrow, even though it is a long journey. If we settle things quickly, there is still plenty of time to arrange everything. But it must be settled tomorrow."

"May I go now?" she asked, remaining seated. She did not want the embarrassment of being pushed down by the immovable force that was his gift if she attempted to stand.

He turned to her again, his brown eyes assessing her. He stroked his chin. "You are as lovely as your mother, with your fine, unblemished skin, dark eyes, and hair like black silk. A man would be lucky to have you as his wife. You will be a fine mother too—a little earlier than I hoped, but beggars cannot be choosers."

"I don't want to be a wife and mother," she said, gripping the armrests on either side of her, her jaw clenching, as she released her breath slowly through her nose. "It's not my only choice. You have seen that I am competent and understand our family business better than my brother Antony. Once I am my own woman, I will show you what I can do. I will make much of myself and you can come with me if you don't feel welcome here with Antony and Baron."

"Please refrain from mentioning his name. I will, of course, go with you to your new home. That part of the marriage agreement has already been worked out."

She sighed in exasperation, the sound loud and long in the otherwise quiet space. "I don't understand why you have so little faith in my abilities."

"I perfectly understand your abilities, Enora," he replied, lowering his voice. "So well, that I know having them hidden behind the walls of a marital home and within the protection of a powerful landowning husband is where they belong. As your father, I can only do so much."

Enora held her breath as he spoke. She'd been so careful, as instructed by her mother, not to give a hint of what she was truly capable of.

"They are minor, thankfully, and easily disguised, if needed. But still frowned upon. Thank heavens your ability lies in soothing the ill. If they extended further to a full persuader, no one could protect you from the Queen's greed for power. A persuader is a rare being but much sought after in all the courts of the land."

Enora's stomach muscles loosened as she realized he didn't know everything, after all, though his mention of the Queen terrified her.

"You may leave me now," her father announced, turning his back to her. "Go upstairs and use your time to pack. Once he arrives and we settle the formalities, there will be a whirlwind of activity and what you do not pack, will remain behind. Forever. I have no wish to return to this house."

"Father...," she attempted to argue.

"I will not hear another word," her father cut in. "He is coming tomorrow and you will marry him. Prepare yourself."

Author's Note:

What do you think of the characters?

Do you think Enora's father's plan will succeed?