Genevieve had managed to keep the nausea at bay, but the panic had failed to disappear as she sank to the ground at the bottom of the ladder that led up into the loft. Affianced. Married. Oh, Genevieve couldn't believe it. She had had a bad feeling about this party, what with the way her mother had fussed and played so nicely leading up to the event, but she hadn't expected-
How could they just spring it on her like that? And her father- surely he wouldn't have agreed to it without at least informing her? Would he? Gen didn't think he would have. But perhaps she had been proven wrong.
The tears came suddenly, with Gen hugging her knees to her chest as she dropped her forehead to her lap. And where was Julius? Why wasn't he here? Gen knew that he'd be able to make everything better- or at least calm her enough to sort out a plan for getting out of this, but-
He'd heard, surely. Servants talked, and of course the Spebbingtons had to have arrived with horses of their own! Gen felt her stomach flip over as her fingers clutched tightly at two folds of her skirts.
She didn't know how long it was- it couldn't have been more than a minute or so- before she heard a voice calling out her name-- Penny. Sniffling, she tugged a handkerchief out of a small pocket in her dress and wiped her face. "I- yes, Penny. I'm here."