Back in my room, I stared at myself in the mirror. My eyes were hollow and red, my skin pale. My head ached, but my mind ached more. The weight of knowing both the past and the future pressed down on me.
I could not afford to mate with Jay, yet I also could not annul the engagement on my own - not without his consent. The only way out was for my father to step in, but I had vowed to keep him out of this mess.
"No, this won't do," I muttered under my breath.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Miss Melody?" Mary called softly. "Your designer is here for the final dress fitting."
"Send her in. Have someone prepare coffee and some cheese bread. She must have set out early without breakfast to arrive here at this hour."
As Mary left to make the arrangements, I tapped my fingers
