General Casimir Aldrich. Madelynn dropped the letter, feeling numb. Was this some sort of joke? Had she honestly been so interesting in that single glance they’d shared? Why was he inviting her to such a formal gathering? Why was he inviting her anywhere? What grace and poise was he referring to? They hadn’t even come close to speaking at the ball.

“Casimir Aldrich.” Her father broke the silence, his eyes scanning the letter once again. “I know that name well. A great General, renowned for his triumphs in battle. And, he’s a talker. The man’s a splendid politician and soldier.”

Madelynn could feel her cheeks warming with a blush. This was absolutely not what she expected, and even more so not what she wanted. Why couldn’t General Callum Whitlock have invited her instead? Even that would be a stretch, given their limited time together. This whole thing- it was just too much. Madelynn took a step back, feeling confused and embarrassed. “I don’t-” She shook her head, trying to piece together her thoughts. “I didn’t even talk to the man. I don’t understand why he-”

“It doesn’t matter why, Darling!” Lady Hawtrey rose from her seat and strode around the table to take Madelynn’s hands in hers. “What matters is that he noticed you. The Aldrich name is powerful, a long line of pure blooded Bearers.”

Madelynn frowned, pulling her hands away from her mother. “I don’t care about that! I just don’t understand why- we didn’t even speak! We barely exchanged a glance. He walked in with Callum and- and…” Her breathing was growing ragged, and she placed her palm against her chest in an attempt to slow her heart rate. “Why?”

“Men are complicated creatures,” her mother spoke, her voice soft and smooth, as if her words were meant to sooth Madelynn. “But this is wonderful news. It means your reputation isn’t completely tarnished. You still have options, and an Aldrich is far from a bad choice.”

“What is wrong with you?” Madelynn shouted, feeling overwhelmed and out of place in her own home. “I have no interest in Casimir Aldrich- his company nor his last name.”

“But you do in this… Whitlow?” Her father questioned, turning in his seat to study her.

“Whitlock!” Madelynn corrected, stomping her foot in frustration. “And no! I’m not interested in a marriage with him, I simply enjoyed his company. Can you please stop acting like it’s obscene that I could just have a pleasant conversation without the backdrop of marriage and politics?”

“Everything is about marriage and politics.” Her father stood, brushing nonexistent crumbs from his coat. “It’s settled. You and your mother will attend the banquet tomorrow. And you will put on a pretty face and a pleasant personality, and pray that the General finds your company as endearing as he let on.” He pushed a finger into the letter, before making his exit.

Madelynn watched him go, wishing she could scream or cry or tear her own skin off. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was incredibly wrong, just in the wording of the letter. You bare a unique potential. What was that supposed to mean? Madelynn was as unique as every other Young Lady at the ball- meaning not at all. She didn’t go out of her way to make herself presentable for him. In fact, she purposefully avoided his fiery gaze.

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“He’s just tough on you because he loves you.” Her mother interrupted her thoughts with pitiful words and an even more pitiful smile.

“Save your lies for tomorrow night.” Madelynn pushed past her mother and Elise, following her father’s swift exit. Once she reached the stairs, she hiked up her skirt and sprinted, making her way to her room as quickly as possible.

This couldn’t be happening. She did everything in her power to not draw attention. She’d turned down Young Lords simply because their voices were a strange pitch, she wasn’t exactly trying to make herself desirable. She hadn’t tried to make herself desirable for Callum either, and he hadn’t for her. They were simply two humans existing. Not lying, not promising, not debating, just a playful exchange that meant nothing and yet meant everything.

She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the plush, white pillow. Why was it so hard for her parents to understand that she didn’t want this. She didn’t want marriage proposals or callers, or letters that all but demanded her presence. She just wanted to be normal, to exist amongst peers who didn’t judge her based on her family’s standing or the way her tongue sometimes moved without her mind’s approval. She just wanted to be Madelynn.

Day turned to night as Madelynn laid still, staring at the ceiling. Elise brought her lunch, and mentioned something about marriage prospects, but Madelynn had no energy to listen or respond. Then, as the sun set, she brought dinner and the promise of a bath filled with lavender oil for Madelynn’s nerves.

Madelynn opted to skip dinner and head straight for the bath. The water rippled as Madelynn sank into the tub, her arms resting along the edges as steam curled around her face. The faint scent of lavender hung in the air, though it was doing a poor job of calming the knot in her belly. Elise moved quietly around the room, gathering towels and oils, her soft humming the only sound apart from the occasional drip of water.

“So,” Elise finally said, breaking the silence, “you’ve spent all day moping. Care to share your thoughts?”

“No,” Madelynn deadpanned, staring straight ahead at an ancient painting of a long-dead relative. He had a long, white beard and a bald head; and deep brown eyes that resembled her father’s. The scowl resembled his as well.

“Oh come on,” Elise prodded, placing a towel on the edge of the tub. “You’re obviously nervous about the Banquet tomorrow.”

“Nervous?” Madelynn tried to hide behind her sarcasm, but the shaking of her voice betrayed her. She sighed, sliding further down into the bathwater until just her knees and head poked out. “I believe a better word is terrified.”

“Well, let’s talk about it.” Elise smiled, a little too excited given the circumstances, and wiped her hands on her dress. “What’s so terrifying about being invited to one of the most prestigious events of the season?”

Madelynn exhaled into the water, watching as bubbles rose to the surface and vanished. “You don’t understand. And I can’t even really explain it either. Just, the way he looked at me at the ball- it was as if he was staring straight through my skin and into my soul.” A chill shot down Madelynn’s spine at the memory of his swirling, golden eyes.

“Maybe it was a look of love?” Elise leaned forward to tilt Madelynn’s head back, pouring the warm water down through her hair.

“No,” Madelynn said through a shiver. “It was more like a look of finality. His eyes were so intense, it felt like a death sentence as soon as his gaze locked with mine. He was so- so different from Callum. I can’t understand why he’s interested in my company at all. He doesn’t seem like the type who would enjoy my… enigmaticness.”

Elise poorly stifled a laugh as she filled the water bucket once again. “If you’re enigmatic then I must be the most mysterious woman alive.” Madelynn smiled at her, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Perhaps he was intrigued by your uncanny ability to be so off-putting.”

“Perhaps.” Madelynn felt like she was drowning in a sea of expectations, unable to come up for air as long as all the questions hung above her. Why had Casimir become interested in her? Why hadn’t he approached her if she was so intriguing? Why couldn’t she shake the feeling that something terrible was awaiting her at the Banquet?