Penelope remained where she was.
The silence that followed felt different from the one that had troubled her all morning. Before, Francesca's quietness had been something Penelope wished to understand. Now she knew why, and the knowledge brought no relief.
She'd always wanted to protect her sister from fear, the pressure of their circumstances, and the possibility that she might one day feel obliged to marry a man she did not love simply because their family needed the security.
She had wanted Francesca's future to remain her own.
Yet somewhere along the way, Penelope had forgotten that protecting someone's freedom also meant allowing them to understand the choices before them.
She had mistaken silence for safety, and now the truth reached Francesca through someone who had never cared whether it hurt her.
Lady Sophia approached at last. "Penelope."
Penelope looked towards her mother.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
