Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100 Showdown At The Pavilion

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Finished

The appointed hour had not yet arrived. Elowen was making a final check to ensure everything was in order when Marwen arrived early.

“Lady Marwen, you’ve come,” Elowen greeted with a smile.

“If I hadn’t, my daughter’s entire future would be ruined beyond repair!” Marwen’s voice was icy, her face devoid of any warmth, her expression grim.

Elowen’s smile faded.

Sylvia spoke softly, “Mother, Her Grace is kindly arranging a match for me. This is unseemly.”

Marwen glared at her. “This is unseemly? It would be truly unseemly for you to marry into that Page family!”

She had been kept in the dark for days, only learning this morning that Elowen was arranging a match for Sylvia–with the nephew of Lieutenant Wrenner’s wife!

She was furious.

The Pages held no title! They spoke of generations of scholars, but what of it? They hadn’t produced a high–ranking official in years!

Marwen’s tone was dripping with sarcasm. “Some people, having married into the highest nobility themselves, arrange matches for others with mere scholars! Is it fear that others might fare better than they do?”

Sylvia’s face paled. She tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mother!”

Marwen coldly shook her off.

Elowen spoke slowly, “You are dissatisfied with Mr. Page?”

Marwen offered a thin, insincere smile. “I wouldn’t dare! Your Grace, you preside over the household, arranging a marriage for Sylvia. How could I be dissatisfied? I am merely an aunt- by–marriage, an outsider! My opinion holds no weight!”

Elowen’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I just find it odd,” Marwen continued, her voice sharpening. “The Garrett girl is deemed worthy of becoming Crown Princess. Yet my husband gave his life for the kingdom! Can’t our daughter even be taken as a concubine?”

Elowen didn’t hesitate. “No. Absolutely not.”

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10:52 Fri, May 8

Chapter 100 Showdown At The Pavilion

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32

Finished

Her tone was final. Marwen, enraged at the rebuff, snapped, “Perhaps you’re jealous, having failed to marry the Crown Prince yourself!”

Elowen’s already tight frown deepened.

Mira stepped forward, her voice stern. “How dare you insult Her Grace!”

Marwen paused, reining in some of her visible anger, but her tone remained caustic. “I meant no insult to Her Grace. I merely speak the truth. Those past matters between Her Grace and the Crown Prince-”

“Mother!” Sylvia could bear it no longer.

Marwen turned on her, displeased. “What is it?”

Sylvia, bolstered by the encouraging words Peres had spoken to her, summoned a rare courage. Clenching her fingers, she said, “The match Her Grace has arranged for me today… is not with Mr. Page. You should not speak to her so harshly.”

Marwen’s focus snapped to the first part. “Not the Page boy? Then who?”

Sylvia took a deep breath, steeling herself. “He is… a gentleman I met on the hill. He-”

“A gentleman?” Marwen cut her off sharply, her expression turning suspicious. “When did you meet a gentleman?”

“When I accompanied His Grace and Her Grace to pay respects to Father…”

“What family is he from? What title does his house hold?” Marwen pressed.

Sylvia lowered her eyes, her voice growing faint. “He… is not from a great family. They hold no title. He is… a merchant.”

“A merchant?” Marwen’s voice rose to a shriek. “You want to marry a merchant?”

Before Sylvia could explain, the scolding slammed into her like a storm. “You foolish girl! I bore you, raised you, so you could marry a tradesman? You’ve been ruined by your father’s influence, turned into a brainless simpleton! Why didn’t you just follow him to the grave!”

Then, a realization dawned. “That day you went out–was it to meet that vagabond?”

A flicker of guilt crossed Sylvia’s face. Marwen caught it in an instant, shot to her feet, and slapped her daughter hard across the face. “Shameless hussy!”

The blow was so forceful it sent Sylvia stumbling sideways, her hair coming loose and tumbling about her shoulders in disarray.

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10:52 Fri, May 8

Chapter 100 Showdown At The Pavilion

32

Finished

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