Hilda swallowed the blood she'd bitten from the inside of her cheek and offered no further explanation. She tucked Grandma Nora's death certificate into her bag and walked out on unsteady legs.
Grandma had been getting on in years. Her one wish before she died was to see Hilda settled somewhere safe.
But on the eve of the wedding, Hilda had stumbled onto a conversation between Jasper and a friend.
"You two have been together seven years. What are you doing getting engaged to another woman?"
Hilda held her breath. Jasper's voice carried through the door, every word razor-sharp and clear.
"How am I supposed to marry her? You know the gap between our families. You have to marry within your class. And on top of that, she works at a funeral home. Can you imagine how embarrassing that is for the Fairmonts? I can't exactly offend my parents just to make her grandmother happy."
Even his friend sounded uneasy. "So you're engaged now. What about Hilda? Your wedding with her is in a few days."
Hilda's knees buckled. She nearly crashed into the vase by the study door.
Jasper heard the noise. His eyes went cold, and he started toward the door.
...