Chapter 1

SOPHIE.

“Look, Maddie, this velvet green would look so good on you. It would match your eyes as well,” Sophie said softly, holding out the fashion designer's magazine and smiling at her sister, who looked unimpressed with the dress, as she did with the previous ten dresses.

“Whatever, why do you even bother? You know I haven't got the slightest interest in whatever dress we end up getting.” Madison replied as she rolled her eyes and pushed the magazine away.

Sophie let out a soft sigh. She knew her sister wasn't happy about the arrangement her father had made to have her married by the end of the month to someone she had never met before, especially since she had a new lover, but somehow, she had hoped that getting a new dress would at least make her feel better. It usually did.

“I know it's not the best decision that father has made, and I really wish I could talk him out of it, but his mind is made up. I just can't stand seeing you upset,” she replied, putting the magazine away. The seamstress had just finished with Madison's measurements.

“Well, the last thing I want to do is impress some rich brat from London with a new dress. Maybe if I look ugly on Friday when he comes, he'll have a change of mind. He's probably ugly too, I'll bet he's middle-aged and bald.”

Her sister was laughing now, and Sophie smiled. It was the first time Madison had laughed since their father made the announcement two days ago.

“Have you told Fred about it?” Sophie asked and watched her sister's expression grow serious again. She wished she had held her tongue.

“Are you crazy? How would I break it to him that the love of his life is getting married to someone else in three weeks?” She asked, and Sophie was silent.

Sophie had never been in love outside of a teenage crush, so she couldn't exactly understand what Madison was going through, but she could only imagine how heartbroken Madison must be now.

“I'm sorry, Maddie,” she said, putting her hands on her little sister's shoulders. She was three years older than Madison, although the younger girl stood taller than she did. They had been very close since they were children, although their personalities differed.

While Madison was bubbly, outgoing and a complete social butterfly, Sophie was tender, quiet and introverted. She had only managed to make two friends her entire life, both of who had left their small town in Cornwall and moved to New York after high school.

Madison looked close to tears now, so they finished with the seamstress and left the fashion house.

The ride home was quiet, as Sophie allowed her sister to cry the entire ride while stroking her hair gently. She had to make a promise to speak to their father before Madison calmed down.

***

Sophie waited until after dinner before she approached her father in his study. Dinner had been quiet as Madison was still moody, even after a few hours had passed. it was the longest Sophie had ever seen her sister sulk, and it gave Sophie the courage she needed to speak to her father.

“Come in,” she heard her father say after she knocked twice. Pushing the door gently, she entered inside the large study and closed the door. The smell of old books made the room feel stuffy, although she was used to it. Her father loved it that way.

“Hey, Dad,” she said as she came close to his study table. He looked up and smiled at her.

“Hey, Princess,” he said, still smiling when he motioned to a chair opposite him. She sat and took his warm reception as a good sign.

She was her father's golden child, but even moments like this made her tense. It wasn't in her nature to oppose her father's decisions, but Madison's happiness was at stake here.

“What are you reading?” She asked, swallowing hard as she tried to see the title of the book in his hand.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” he replied and laughed, “I'm probably too old to be reading this again, but I needed a break from philosophical books.”

Sophie gave him a small smile. “It's nice to see you read something unusual for a change.”

“Hmm, so tell me. What can I help you with this evening?” He was still smiling when he asked, but Sophie felt her forehead heat up.

She cleared her throat. “Dad, please don't give Madison away in marriage. She's young, inexperienced and too carefree to understand the responsibilities that lie with the quest. She'll end up blaming and resenting you for giving her away like this.”

Her heart was bouncing in her chest, but she waited for his response, eyes filled with hope.

“Did she ask you to do this? Is that why she barely said anything or ate at dinner tonight?” He asked, his voice calm and devoid of accusation.

“Dad, I offered. That's not the point here,” she replied, letting out a small breath. Her heartbeat was slowly easing back to its normal rate.

She heard him sigh as he put the book on the table. “It's the best for our family right now. Business is not doing very well right now, and I'm not getting younger. Partnering with Mr Blackwood is the only way I can keep sailing right. Besides, he'll take good care of Maddie.”

“She won't be happy, Dad. Her heart belongs to another man. Let me marry him instead, I'm older and more dutiful than she is.” Sophie spoke in response, and for a brief moment, she saw a tinge of fear in her father's eyes.

“No way! I can't let you go that far, Sophie. I need you close by if I'm to sleep soundly at night. Even when you're close, my heart worries for you, my child. Madison is not like you, Sophie.” He spoke in one breath, his lips almost trembling for a moment, Madison felt bad for him.

“How long are you going to keep me close and treat me like a child? Until I'm thirty? Fifty? Or will I spend the rest of my life never seeing the world, just to protect a life I'll never live?” She could feel the flame starting inside her and wished she could keep her emotions under control.

“Until you get better, Princess. I can't handle it if something terrible happens to you. It frightens me to death.” He was shaking his head vigorously as he spoke.

“And if that never happens? I was a sickly child, a sickly teenager and I am still a sickly adult, Dad. Not much has changed in the past twenty-three years, so tell me, what if I never get better?” She was fuming, and the tears threatened to flood her eyes.

“Please don't make this difficult, Sophie. You know I mean well,” he stopped and stared for a long while. Sophie met his eyes and held them, hers flashing with anger.

They'd had this conversation several times, and her father's response had always been the same, but she could never get used to it.

Throughout her elementary to high school days, they would have the same discussion when the school wanted him to sign agreements for overnight field trips, and he would say no. The same thing when she wanted to go to Coventry for college, and even when she wanted to get a job far from Cornwall.

He cared for her, but caged her to protect her, shielding her from dangers she wasn't even aware of.

Being the dutiful and obedient daughter, Sophie obeyed her entire life, but now she wondered if she would have to live like this forever.

“Madison cannot get married to a stranger, Dad.” She finally said, regaining composure and breaking the long silence.

“Well, I'm afraid I'm not changing my mind. Goodnight, Sophie,” he looked away from her and picked up the book again. Sophie sat quietly, waiting to see if he'd look up again.

When he didn't say anything five minutes later, she walked out of the study without saying anything else.

Madison was in her bedroom when she walked in. Her eyes were so wide and full of expectations that it pricked Sophie's heart.

“Well?” She asked as Sophie stood in the doorway. She couldn't bring herself to reply, so she bent her head to the ground.

“I'm sorry, Maddie.” She said without looking at her sister. Madison said nothing as she quietly brushed past Sophie and headed for her own bedroom.

Sophie collapsed onto the bed, her eyes up to the ceiling. She had only been an hour in her father's study, but the conversation had been exhausting.

She wanted to do more, to try more, but she had no more energy left. The thought of Madison being a miserable wife to a wealthy stranger made her stomach churn, but the thought of trying to get her father to change his mind gave her a headache.

Her mind was blank now as she continued to stare at the ceiling until sleep overpowered her.