Tom composed himself, glanced at her, and immediately his face hardened into a cold, heavy expression.

"Henry's only been gone a few days. You, a mere junior, have already forgotten what he said on his deathbed? The Blackwood family's young madam will only be Sophia!"

"Someone as disrespectful as you has the nerve to think they're worthy of marrying into the Blackwood family? Who do you think you are?!"

Tom took the opportunity to chastise her, his words laced with venom as ...