“I beg your pardon?” Anastasia couldn’t help but start at what her stepmother had just revealed.

“Do pay attention when someone is speaking, Anastasia. It’s not very becoming of a young woman of your standing” the duke drawled from across the table. Anastasia whipped her head towards her father in shock. He had barely said a word to her in all these years, and instead of defending her, he decides to focus on chastising her for her manners? She hadn’t expected much of her father, but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t have a tiny sliver of hope that he still cared about her.

“But father, the Marquess of Dragny is known to be a cold and heartless man! Are you saying you’re fine with sending your own daughter off to someone like that?” Anastasia pleaded.

“Your stepmother and I have already discussed everything and I agree that this will be a fortuitous match. She has also informed me of your overall…lacking in abilities as my heir” the duke mused. “Furthermore, I see no harm in you marrying into the Corvus household. It will give our family ties to their manufacturing industries as well.”

Anastasia chuckled darkly at her father’s rationalizations. She was a fool to think even for a moment her father cared what happened to her.

Lady Lilith clapped her hands together, refocusing the attention back to her.

“The marquess will arrive at noon today. I expect you all to do nothing short of representing the very best of this household” Lady Lilith ordered, shooting a pointed look towards Anastasia.

Deeming the morning meeting over, Lady Lilith motioned for the maids to clear away the table, taking some time to speak with Apphia, no doubt instructions regarding Anastasia. Confirming her observation, Apphia approached Anastasia with a scowl.

“My lady asks that I direct you to the sitting room in order to prepare for when the marquess arrives.”

“Yes, of course” Anastasia nodded, “I wouldn’t want to keep such an honored guest waiting” she gritted her teeth into a smile. Apphia narrowed her eyes at Anastasia’s tone, but said nothing as she sharply turned towards the doors to leave Anastasia trailing in her wake.

The walk to the sitting room seemed to last forever as Anastasia began to lose herself in thought. She was to be served on a silver platter from one dangerous household into another. While it would put some distance between Lady Lilith and the awful memories she had tainted her home with, she had heard of the terrifying rumors surrounding Dragny’s marquess. Not only was he said to be cold and heartless as she had asserted earlier, he had also been married to three other women before. All of whom had mysteriously disappeared without a trace, a fact that didn’t bode well with Anastasia, especially since the marquess himself was the sole suspect in these incidents. While she might be safe from Lady Lilith’s clutches, would she be safe from the marquess too?

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“Ahem! We’ve arrived at the sitting room, please get your head out of the clouds.” Anastasia blinked out of her dazed thoughts from Apphia’s loud voice. Honestly, the woman could wake the dead. The thought made her smile as she entered the sunlit sitting room. She hadn’t entered this room in a long time, but was surprised to see it had changed much in the period of time she’d last seen it. It had been her mother’s favorite room, decorated in delicate blue and white, with beautiful vases full of lilies. Now it was filled with purple and silver, without a flower in sight, save for a simple vase of roses on the center table. Any trace of her mother’s warm presence was replaced with Lady Lilith’s cold and calculating touch. Anastasia’s heart throbbed with grief at yet another part of her mother gone.

Lady Lilith was already seated on the plush black chaise, sipping tea while looking Anastasia over.

“Thank you for coming here so quickly, punctuality is a very becoming trait in a prospective bride. Although, I probably have Apphia to thank for that” Lady Lilith drawled.

“I would never make you wait, my lady!” Apphia gushed.

“Now then, please take a seat Anastasia. There isn’t much time to prepare you before Marquess Corvus arrives” Lady Lilith motioned to the seat beside her. Anastasia tensed at the thought of sitting anywhere near her, but knew that if she disobeyed the punishment would be severe. Eyes lowered, Anastasia walked to the cushion next to Lady Lilith and took her seat. Before she could react, Lady Lilith’s hand grabbed her by the chin and yanked her face towards her own. Anastasia’s eyes widened in fear, as she was suddenly met with Lady Lilith’s cruel gaze.

“Eye contact is very important my dear. No man wants a meek, simpering wife who cannot even look at him!” Lady Lilith laughed, as her grip on Anastasia’s face tightened. “You would do well to remember this if you want this engagement to be a success. We have a lot riding on it after all” Lady Lilith smiled in mock kindness before releasing Anastasia from her grasp.

Anastasia barely managed to nod in understanding before turning away, distinctly aware of Apphia snickering nearby. Her heart was beating wildly, and her throat had gone dry. She hadn’t expected that to happen, and it left her feeling even more afraid than before. She could barely focus on Lady Lilith’s ramblings for the next couple of hours on the marquess' likes and dislikes and how to be a proper wife. If she was still afraid of Lilith, how could she face the marquess? Anastasia knew she would have her answer soon enough when a knock sounded, and the marquess himself strode in.