Free A Lady's Favor by Josi S. Kilpack

one o’clock in the afternoon but there was time enough to make an afternoon call. Not alone, of course, Mama would come with her, but she could still see Mathew and apologize for all that had happened.
    Mama’s eyes flitted to the letter in her basket, confirming Bianca’s suspicions of who had sent it. Her heart rate increased, but then Mama lifted her chin.
    “No.”
    “Mama, I must,” Bianca said, her unbound hair falling forward as she leaned toward her mother. “I must explain myself and apologize for his injury. I must know he is all right. Come with me; we’ll go see him together.”
    “No.”
    “Mama, please,” Bianca begged. “He was helping me, and everything went so horrible wrong. I must—”
    “You have not yet told me why he helped you in the first place,” Mama said. “You have not spoken to him in years and yet he would do something like this for you. It makes no sense.”
    “He is the only man with a title higher than Lord Strapshire and therefore the only one who could deflect the baron’s interest.”
    “Yes, but why would he help you?”
    Bianca looked away, determined not to say anymore. “Please do not make this worse by not allowing me to explain myself to him. Please allow me to make things right.”
    “All things cannot be made—”
    “I know all things cannot be made right!” Bianca shouted, pounding her fist into the soft cushion beside her as her frustrations overflowed. “I know that, but I must try. Don’t you see? This is about more than public humiliation and scandal and shame and proper manners, it’s about a man who helped me and suffered for it. I must talk to him.”
    “No.”
    Bianca growled low in her throat and stormed from the room, feeling as though her head would explode. Her mother was the most stubborn woman she knew! Why would she not listen? Why must she be so controlling of Bianca’s life to not even let her have a say in it?
    When she reached her bedchamber, Bianca slammed the door, and forced herself to stand still, willing the anger to dissipate before she made a fool of herself by throwing a tantrum—though part of her wanted to reduce herself to such a childish fit of fury. Once she felt she had control, she moved to the window seat and stared out over the portion of village she could see from this vantage point. She couldn’t see Mathew’s estate due to the woods between their houses.
    What had he meant by that kiss? What did he think of her not having helped him after Lord Strapshire’s attack? All she needed was two minutes to talk to him, and she was beyond frustrated at the refusal of her mother to even let her try to make it better. Here she was a grown women and yet powerless, still. Perhaps she could sneak a letter. There were some members of her staff who were loyal to her. Maybe . . .
    The click of the door made her pause, but only for a moment before she turned, her fists balled at her sides. She narrowed her eyes as her mother entered the room. Thinking they were going to continue the conversation from the drawing room, Bianca braced herself for battle.
    A moment later, however, three maids entered the room as well. They gave her an apologetic look as they moved toward the wardrobe. They opened the wardrobe doors and began removing Bianca’s dresses.
    “What are you doing?” Bianca moved forward to stop them, but Mama stepped in front of her and put her hands on her shoulders, forcing Biancato meet her eye.
    “Why are they taking my clothes, Mama?”
    “Because I don’t want you to have any other addled ideas about seeing Mr. Hensley against my wishes. You are bound to this house for the time being and, to make certain that you don’t try to leave, I am removing all opportunity for it. You shall possess only your nightclothes and dressing gowns until I can trust you to behave properly in society once again.” She smiled darkly. “It could be months judging by your current state of mind.”
    “You are being ridiculous!”