Tullia paced the stone floor of her uncle’s house. The plastered walls were covered with tapestries that helped muffle the echo of her steps as she stomped back and forth fuming with irritation. How her mother could have thought to have her married off to the likes of Euan Cowden was beyond comprehension. A more self-righteous prick could not be found in all of Holbeck, thanks to his father’s ability to weasel into the good graces of Count Odvarr. 

Frederic Grainer was in the next room with his sister, her mother, discussing the repercussions of Tullia’s latest embarrassment, “Amina, maybe it’s time you consider your daughter’s feelings on the matter. Clearly she has no intent to marry any time soon.” 

“Her intent?” Amina Baird’s shrill voice rang out. “She is my daughter, Frederic. Her intent is to do as she is instructed. Her father has passed and she has turned down every viable suitor presented to her in the past two years. Gods help me, she is going to ruin what’s left of our meager household before the summer’s out. We’ll be lucky if we aren’t run out of town for the stunts she’s pulled. They’re starting to call her a witch again.” 

Tullia paused and angled herself towards the door where her mother’s and uncle’s voices were coming. She could hear her uncle’s voice reassuring her mother that he would never let the two of them be put out on the streets, nor run out of town. “But you might consider my offer.” 

Amina huffed. “You want to send her away. Cast her out to live on her own.” 

“Hardly,” Frederic reassured her while Tullia pressed herself to the door so she could better hear the conversation and her uncle’s proposal. “She’d be no more than an hour’s walk from town, and I could give her work, enough to earn a small living and feel independent for a while, until she is ready to marry and settle down. You’re more than welcome to move into our house here, Amina. Larissa would love to have an extra hand with the boys. And it would give everyone time to forget about certain incidents.” 

Tullia backed away from the door and placed herself on the other side of the room, lest they come out and find her eavesdropping. She pondered her uncle’s words, the offer for freedom and independence she was going to be given in the near future. Soon her mind was swimming with the possibilities, a home of her own, away from her mother and her endless supply of suitors. 

She could picture a little cottage with abundant flowers on the edge of the woods. It would be quiet, away from the bustling streets of Holbeck and her mother’s shrill voice. She could do needlework for her uncle and buy her own groceries. Tullia could feel the excitement welling up inside of her as she began to plan what she would do with her freedom. First, she would need to buy a goat.