Chapter 1

“Yes, they are coming,” Father announced at dinner, looking the family over with a serious, strict expression that advised against squeals of excitement and overabundance of questions. “The Shelbertons have accepted my invitation.”

Elmira, the youngest, still squealed, eliciting a checking look from both parents. And she had a question, too.

“All of them?”

“Yes,” Father allowed. “His Lordship, Lady Elizabeth, and their three sons. Possibly Clarina and Flora, the nieces, too.”

Maristella was excited as well, but she knew better than to show it. The upcoming Fall Festival with its performances, competitions, music, and dances already was a welcome diversion from the quiet seclusion of their life. Now, with the arrival of the Shelbertons, it was promising to become even better.

“Ooooh, so we finally get to meet the legendary Kalvistan,” Delwin commented, casting a glance at his brother. Corwin grinned in response.

“Do I sense a hint of disdain in that statement?” Father asked, frowning. “Or even worse, jealousy?”

“No, nothing like that,” Delwin hurried to assure him. “It’s just that anywhere we go, we keep hearing how wonderful he is. Kalvistan this, Kalvistan that… The best swordsman, best archer, best swimmer, the most eloquent speaker, and of course the most dashing. Yet we keep missing him. I was beginning to wonder whether the man even exists.”

“I assure you he does,” Elmira put in. “Amelia saw him at the Crest Tournament, where he was one of the winners. And yes, he is impossibly handsome, she told me.”

Servants took away soup plates, the butler brought in roast beef and began cutting it. Father waited for him to be done and gone before answering.

“Possibly or impossibly, I would not know,” he said, “I do not have the advantage of a young maiden’s silliness to be able to judge. What I do know is that all three Shelberton boys are distinguished and worthy. And while they do not come here with matrimonial intentions, they will nevertheless pay attention to eligible young ladies they see around, I’m sure. So I would advise my daughters to present your best selves, both in appearance and behavior.”

Maristella knew it didn’t apply to her, her deformity had killed all hopes of marriage a long time ago; but she still felt the pressure. Family name, family honor, propriety… There would be more lectures about that, no doubt.

“Well, if there’s any hope of a match to be made, we must keep Maristella out of it,” Elmira said, looking down at her plate. “She must not go to the festival.”

At first, the words didn’t even register. Maristella was still trying to grasp what her sister said and whether she really said it when she heard Cassilda’s quiet gasp, followed by the indignant exclamation:

“Elmira!”

Elmira put down her fork and knife. “What? You know it’s true! Don’t you remember what happened with the Gosley cousins?”

They all did. James and Douglas Gosley did have matrimonial intentions, notifying Father in advance that they wished to meet his daughters and possibly pick a bride. They were nice, polite and well educated young men, both Cassilda and Elmira liked them. Maristella intended to stay out of the way… but the moment the Gosleys saw her, they had singled her out and sought her company. Her deformity was hidden under clothes, no one knew about it besides her parents. And what the dresses did not conceal looked exceptionally beautiful — or so people said. Noble features, flawless skin, the brightest blue eyes, waist-long golden hair, a shapely, toned figure… “Your oldest daughter is a remarkable beauty, Mr. Westen,” the governor had said when he saw her once — and wondered why she wouldn’t attend all the balls. Father and Mother cited poor health, and made sure he never saw her again. Maristella did her best to discourage the Gosley cousins and redirect their attentions to her sisters — to no avail. Both Douglas and James ended up proposing to her, and left brokenhearted.

“What happened was not Maristella’s fault!” Cassilda was up in arms and ready to fight. “Yes, she is under the vow to never marry, but it doesn’t mean that we lock her up!”

Under the vow. Yes, even Cassie, Maristella’s most loyal friend and defender, did not know the true reason. She never saw her change clothes. “The vow” also explained why Maristella didn’t have a personal maid: she was supposed to live modestly.

“I didn’t say anything about locking her up,” Elmira muttered, returning to her food. “Don’t put words into my mouth.”

“As good as said!” Cassilda’s eyes burned with anger. “You can’t deny Maristella the joy of going to the festival! It’s unfair! We all have been so looking forward to it! Tell her, Father!”

Mr. Westen appeared to ponder it as he chewed a piece of roast. His face was impenetrable. Maristella waited. Her father was not a cruel man, but…

“I will leave the decision to your mother,” he said at last.

All eyes turned to his wife. Mother, so elegant in her favorite dark blue dress, also took her time coming up with an answer.

“I am of the opinion that Elmira is right. Maristella should not go to the festival. Not only that, she should not meet the Shelbertons — at all.”

This time, the words sounded loud and clear, they did register — and slashed Maristella’s heart in half. She had long since accepted the fact that love was forbidden to her and she’d never have a family of her own; she wished her sisters well and wanted them to be happy. But now she was seen as… an obstacle? So much so that both Elmira and Mother wished to take drastic measures, and talked about it in such a dry, matter-of-fact manner. They didn’t ask her to make this sacrifice; they simply stated that she must and should.

Her face must have reflected the pain. Mother looked at her and added, “I know it sounds harsh. But, all things considered, it is best for everyone. You don’t want to give any young man a false hope, Maristella, and believe me, you don’t want your own heart broken. Yes, you are used to guarding it, you know your destiny — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. You are a beautiful young woman of just the right age to form an attachment, even against your will, despite being determined not to. It is best to avoid the temptation altogether. Do you agree?”

All eyes were on her now, even the brothers stopped eating. Maristella took a deep breath. Did she agree? About the temptation — yes, certainly. But shutting herself off completely… and especially missing the festival… She was not ready for that.

“Yes,” she said, careful not to show much emotion. Her parents demanded complete self-control. “As much as I’d love to get to know the Shelbertons and make new friends, I do understand how it could be unwise. However…” Maristella watched her mother’s face, and the subtle change from pleased to not-so-pleased was not lost on her. “However, I would very much regret not being able to go to the festival. Perhaps there is still a way for me to attend? Unofficially, so to speak?”

Mother was about to answer, but Cassilda cut in before she had a chance.

“Unofficially how? Hiding under a veil? Pretending to be someone else? Someone who is not a part of the family? This is humiliating! Degrading!”

“Cassilda, this was impolite,” Father said, a warning clear in his voice. “Speaking out of turn is almost as bad as interrupting.”

But Cassie ignored the warning. The dear girl loved her sister too much.

“And how is Maristella supposed to avoid meeting the guests?” she continued. “They will probably dine with us every day, even if they stay in the guest house and not here. Will she eat separately? Where? And how are we going to explain her absence?”

“That’s enough, Cassilda.” Father held a meaningful pause, staring at her. “You will now keep your peace. Obviously, the details of the arrangement still need to be worked out; your mother and I will discuss it all privately. However, I can answer one of your questions right now: the Shelbertons will not be staying here, or at the guest house. I offered it, but they prefer to rent a cottage. So avoiding them will not be that difficult. There will be visits, of course, but no daily interactions.”

***

Still fuming, Cassilda stormed into the library where her mother had retreated to after the meal. She was not going to leave it like that. Talking to Maristella would be useless, she always defended that impossible vow, for whatever reason, refusing to explain; but Mother could — and should! — do something about it.

Mother turned from the bookshelves, adjusting the white shawl she had draped over her shoulders. “I see you have more to say to me?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, speak.”

Cassilda was ready. “This is so unfair! How can you not see it, Mother? What are we punishing Maristella for? What has she done?”

Mrs. Westen sighed. “If you think this is easy for me, or your father, Cassilda, you are very mistaken. It is not a punishment; it’s a necessity.”

“Why?”

Mother slightly lifted her eyebrows. “What do you mean by this question? You have heard all the considerations. Do you have a different solution?”

Cassilda did. A radical one.

“Yes. We must release Maristella from this vow. Let her find her love, get married — and she’ll be out of the way. Problem solved! Why are you shaking your head?”

“Because it’s impossible.”

“Why? How old was she when she had taken that vow? Did she even understand what she was pledging? Most likely not! And if she didn’t know what she was doing, she can be released from it! We must speak to —”

“Maristella did not take this vow,” Mother interrupted. “It was bestowed on her. And it cannot be undone.”

Cassilda stopped short. This was a huge revelation, and a shocking one. “Bestowed?… Someone else placed it on her? Who? Why?” She could tell by her mother pursing her lips that there would be no answers, and it was infuriating. “Please, tell me! Was it you? Father?”

“No.”

“Well, who, then? And why can it not be undone? Please, Mother! No one ever explained any of it to me! Maristella refuses to speak of the vow, you said not to ask questions…”

Mrs. Westen looked her daughter firmly in the eye. “There are reasons for that. I may not tell you more than you already know. You must take my word for it that it is a very difficult, painful — and yes, unfair situation that cannot be changed.”

Cassilda stood silent, taking it all in. She didn’t expect her radical solution to be easily accepted, but neither did she expect the new piece of information she had just received. The vow was not even Maristella’s own choice…

“Does Maristella know the whole story?” she asked.

“She does. But don’t try to pry it out of her, it will hurt her.”

***