5 5 Daisy's Dilemma (AVOT)

Daisy stood in shock, her eyes widening as her father relayed the news of her upcoming marriage to Lord Blackthorne. The entire family had gathered in the living room, her stepmother Katherine, and her stepsisters, Cassandra and Lila, all listening tentatively and wearing expressions of mixed emotions.

"I have shown him a portrait of you, and he has agreed to take you as his wife instead of Cassandra," Thomas explained.

Cassandra's eyes widened in shock, but a hint of relief flickered across her face. Lila, however, glared at Daisy with envy. Katherine, whose initial reaction had been one of relief, now seemed to be reconsidering her feelings on the matter. She didn't want her daughter Cassandra to marry Lord Blackthorne, but neither did she want Daisy to have him and marry into wealth. She would become the Marchioness.

"Why would you do that?" Daisy asked with a frown.

"You wanted me to find you a husband. I did," Thomas replied.

"Yes, a husband. I did not ask you to throw me to the wolves." Daisy exclaimed.

Thomas took a deep breath as if to control his anger. "I am not. I have spoken to Lord Blackthorne about his illness, and he has assured me that there is nothing to worry about. I already told all of you that it is nothing but a rumor."

Then why me? Daisy wanted to ask. Why was he giving her away and not Cassandra?

"It is not about his illness. You have met him, you should know." She said, and her father stiffened as if knowing exactly what she meant. The man had frightened him too.

He quickly regained his composure. "I know the Marquess has agreed to marry you, and you should feel grateful for that," he said.

Daisy couldn't believe her ears. She could see Cassandra seated with a smug look on her face from the corner of her eyes.

"Thomas," suddenly Katherine softly interrupted. "I think Daisy has a point. The man is... frightening. He is not a suitable husband for anyone."

Her father's face twisted with disapproval. "What are you suggesting?" He asked her.

"Well, I know we can't outright deny his proposal, but I am sure we can find a way."

Daisy wanted to roll her eyes. She knew Katherine didn't have her best interests at heart. She just didn't want her to marry into wealth, and for a moment, Daisy wanted to accept this proposal just to spite her. But something about Lord Blackthorne sent chills down her spine, and her father's earlier expression only strengthened her fear.

"I have no wishes of canceling this proposal," he told Katherine sternly. "Daisy, you will be meeting him tomorrow." And with that, he left them.

Katherine's shoulders dropped in defeat, and Helena walked away to follow Thomas and speak to him in private. Daisy went to stop her mother.

"No, I need to talk to him," Helena said.

Daisy shook her head. "And ask him to do what?"

Daisy had decided to take things into her own hands. She knew her father wouldn't risk anything for her, so she would have to figure things out on her own.

The whole night, Daisy couldn't sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts about Lord Blackthorne. He had found out her lie, but what did he want from her?

She tossed and turned, considering her options. She could accept the marriage, which was very tempting when she thought of how that would upset Katherina and her daughters, or she could try to find a way out of the arrangement in a way that would cause minimal problems.

Perhaps she was worrying for no reason, and if the whole family met Lord Blackthorne and he saw Cassandra, he would choose her at last.

Yes. Maybe that was it, although that didn't feel right either. She didn't like Cassandra, but she didn't want her… Want her what?

What would he do to her? What was she even thinking? Why did she fear him? Her mind could find no reason, but her gut feeling was telling her something else.

After a while of pondering, Daisy decided to tackle the problem tomorrow. She would meet Lord Blackthorne and see for herself what he wanted and if her fears were valid. Perhaps she was just emotional that night.

In the morning, she woke up to the sound of the door being flung open. Startled, she opened her eyes and found Cassandra pouting. She stomped forward and threw the clothes she held onto her.

"Father told me to lend you a dress. Don't ruin it!" She snapped and left.

Daisy sat up and looked at the white dress adorned with pearls and lace. Her stomach twisted with dread and anticipation. Despite her fear, she couldn't deny that she was curious about the Marquess. She wanted to know if his home was as haunting as people said it was.

As Daisy stood before the mirror, putting the final touches on her hair. Her mother, Helena, entered the room, concern etched on her face.

"Daisy, are you sure about this? I can speak to your father again," she offered.

Daisy shook her head. "No, Mother. I need to face this myself."

Helena sighed but nodded, understanding her daughter's determination. She embraced Daisy tightly when her father called from downstairs, announcing that the carriage was ready. Daisy took a deep breath and went downstairs to join him.

As they rode towards Lord Blackthorne's estate, Daisy couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and curiosity. She gazed out the window, watching the landscape change from the familiar to the unknown. The closer they got to the estate, the more ominous the surroundings seemed to become.

Upon their arrival, Daisy was struck by the imposing sight of Lord Blackthorne's residence. The massive, dark stone structure loomed before them, shrouded in shadows and surrounded by an eerie mist. A shiver ran down her spine, but she pushed her uneasiness aside.

They were escorted inside the grand, yet gloomy mansion by a silent, solemn servant. Daisy couldn't help but feel as though she had stepped into another world. The interior was a masterful blend of opulence and darkness, with an atmosphere that was at once captivating and disconcerting.

Finally, they were shown into the living room, where Lord Blackthorne awaited them. He stood near the fireplace, the flames casting flickering shadows across his face, emphasizing his strange metal skin and sharp, chiseled features. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and dressed impeccably in a tailored black coat, waistcoat, and trousers. His dark hair was neatly combed back and tied at the nape with a silver ribbon.

He turned to them, and his movements were fluid, almost unnervingly graceful. As his piercing eyes landed on Daisy, she held her breath, suddenly feeling awkward. She was here to meet the man who wanted to... marry her? She couldn't comprehend.

Unable to hold his gaze, she looked down, fighting the urge to fumble with her hands.

As he greeted them, she felt it was rude to keep looking down. She didn't want to appear timid either. She wasn't!

"Miss Daisy," he continued, now turning to her. Her heart leaped to her throat. "I'm pleased to finally meet you in person." He paused, allowing his gaze to linger on her for a moment longer before continuing. "Please, make yourselves comfortable." He motioned for them to sit.

As Daisy followed her father's lead, she couldn't help but wonder why Lord Blackthorne was pretending they met for the first time.

She looked his way as he came to sit on the armchair across from them, and his eyes met hers. A slow smile curved one side of his mouth more than the other.

It was as if he knew something she didn't and was amused by her ignorance.

"Here she is, Daisy, my eldest daughter," her father began, sounding nervous.

He went on to talk about her, and Lord Blackthorne seemed to listen, but Daisy felt as though he was focused on her, watching her every move even if he wasn't looking at her directly.

"I shouldn't talk for much longer and ruin her chances," Thomas chuckled.

"You could possibly not, and I am intrigued by the stories," Lord Blackthorne replied, keeping the charming yet unnerving smile.

A few servants came in and served them tea and delicate pastries arranged on a silver platter.

"I shall have my tea somewhere else and let the two of you talk alone," her father said.

Daisy panicked and wanted to stop her father, but at the same time, this was her chance to solve the mystery of Lord Blackthorne and find out what he wanted from her.

Lord Blackthorne gave her father a nod, and the servants took his tea and showed him out of the parlor. Now Daisy's heart was pounding wildly in her chest and she tried everything to mask her nervousness but failed miserably as soon as his eyes returned to her.

"Miss Daisy," he began, emphasizing her name.

The lie.