Arranged marriages weren't new to you. You'd seen several of your friends and family members being married off to men who were significantly older and richer, so you had time to prepare for when it would eventually happen to you. You always thought you wouldn't care when it did. Sure, you'd be sad over the whole 'forced to marry someone' for a while, but it wasn't like your heart belonged to someone else.

Until you met Thomas.

When you first met the young poet, stumbling over his words and accidentally making a lewd comment towards you, you immediately fell in love. He definitely wasn't the kind of man your father would allow you to be seen with, let alone marry, but it didn't matter. You loved him, and he loved you.

Sadly, with all the excitement of having a secret lover, you somehow managed to completely forget that your father had been planning on marrying you off to the son of one of his business partners. Henry Taylor was his name. He was certainly not Thomas, but he was alright. Still, you never told him about who your heart truly belonged to.

Sneaking Thomas in through your bedroom window (Henry was still confused as to why you insisted on sleeping on the first floor) had become a regular occurrence. Thomas was definitely slightly annoyed that he couldn't publicly declare your love for each other, but you managed to keep him under control. Somehow.

By now, the servants of the house knew well not to go into your room when your 'friend' was in there with you while Henry was away. They never said anything, but yeah. They knew. He was currently sitting at the edge of your bed, mumbling poetry under his breath. God, this man never stopped. Without thinking, you said a casual "Oh, that reminds me of something Henry said last night".

Big mistake

Thomas's jaw immediately tightened, and he let out a loud, dramatic sigh. "Henry, yes. of course. How utterly....necessary for him to exist while it is meant to be just the two of us here." He was sulking now, even if he wouldn't admit it. The glare he was giving a blank wall in front of him while fiddling with his cravat said it all.