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Back The Beholder Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. Acknowledgments
  61. About the Author
  62. Books by Anna Bright
  63. Back Ad
  64. About the Publisher

I sifted through their faces as I passed, ignoring everyone as I searched for Peter.

I’d feel stronger once he stood beside me. I knew it.

When I found him at the edge of the crowd, it was all I could do not to reach for his hand as I passed. But Peter wouldn’t look at my face.

His long fingers were twined together, his earnest gaze trained on them.

My pulse sped.

“Captain Matthew Janesley, I’ve extended a marriage proposal to your son on behalf of our daughter, Selah, the Seneschal-elect,” Daddy said. “Will Peter accept?”

The moments between the question and its answer hung like smoke in the air, burning my lungs.

I willed Peter to meet my eyes. I knew I’d see his answer there. But no sooner could I catch his gaze than he’d glance away again.

Yes, I prayed, squeezing my fingers so hard I feared they’d snap like twigs. Say yes.

Captain Janesley stared at his broad hands, at his feet, anywhere but at my father. Or at me. “No, my Lord Seneschal. Peter respectfully declines your proposal.”

3

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I couldn’t hold my silence.

“What?” The word was a breath, a whimper. But not a single person in the noiseless room missed that small sound of hurt.

I didn’t care that all of Arbor Hall could see as I stared. I couldn’t look away from Peter. As the room filled with hissing whispers like water boiling over the rim of a pot, I heard nothing but my own keening heart, was aware of nothing but my own humiliation.

I felt well and truly naked, stripped bare before them all.

I’d never cared for anyone but Peter. He’d been my first and only choice.

But Peter hadn’t picked me.

He knew me—he was my friend—and he didn’t want me. And all of Potomac was here to bear witness to my rejection.

I’d never have to wonder again what Peter thought of me when I stood beside my family.

I turned toward Daddy, panicked. His eyes darted between Peter and me, confusion and disappointment in the lines of his weary face.

My heart sank into my stomach. He hadn’t reckoned on this. He didn’t need this kind of worry right now.

How could I have made such a huge mistake?

In the scene I’d envisioned, Peter said yes. Daddy would’ve been jubilant. He would’ve given me a kiss, hugged Peter tightly, welcomed him into the family, worn the kind of smile I remembered.

I hadn’t prepared for this, either. I hadn’t imagined what would happen if Peter said no.

My father studied me, asking me silently what he should do. I gave him the tiniest shake of my head, the feeblest shrug of my shoulders.

“Very well,” he managed to say. And Daddy cleared his throat and said nothing else.