The Lost of New Bristol (Lila Randolph Book 2)
Page 44
“I’m to choose a partner for the season based only on one party?” Lila despaired at how ridiculous her life had become in an hour.
“Choose or don’t choose, but Wolf Industries requires a new heir. At the very least, we need a firstborn son to send to Bullstow. It will signal to the rest of New Bristol that our family has settled at last. Our stock has declined over the last few years due to your sister’s ill-placed constancy.”
“Not just her constancy.”
“Lila,” her mother said gently. For the first time in her life, Lila saw a hint of desperation in the chairwoman’s eyes. “Wear the whitecoat and commit to a child. It has always been your duty, just as it was Shiloh’s duty to go to Bullstow. You’ve had your fun, and perhaps it’s my fault for indulging you, but it is time to grow up. You must do this for the sake of the family and your own future, and you know it.”
She had seen her mother’s face as she gambled on a deal.
This wasn’t it.
Lila stayed silent, hating her mother for her ultimatum, hating that she must choose between joining the family as prime or being an exile among the poorer classes, powerless to wield any influence to help the family at all.
When she finally spoke, her words came out thin and weak. “Not prime, Mother, not until I’ve chosen a senator for the season. I don’t want the fuss at the Closing Ball. Besides, I still need to clean up my mess.”
“I understand.”
“Reschedule the appointment, too. I have a prior commitment.”
“Fine, I’ll change your appointment to five o’clock this evening. A car will pick you up in front of the house. For what it is worth, I am sorry. This is what happens when you are born with responsibility and duty and talent.”
The chairwoman tinged the last few words with a sad half-smile.
Lila could not help but think that part of her mother in that moment was fourteen years old again, still at breakfast, told that she would begin running an empire as soon as she finished her meal.
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Other Titles by the Author
The Lila Randolph Novels
The Heirs of New Bristol
The Lost of New Bristol
The Wolves of New Bristol
The Oracle of New Bristol
The Gods of New Bristol
The Champions of New Bristol
The Unbowed of New Bristol
About the Author
Wren Weston grew up writing fantasy and science fiction stories, but one chance book club encounter with a romance novel changed her favorite genre forever.
She became addicted.
Not only can she not stop reading them, she can’t stop injecting shades of the genre into everything she writes.
You have been warned, darlings.
To recommend a romance novel to Wren, visit www.wrenweston.com or drop her a line on Twitter.