Love beyond the forbidden

s late-night **Chapter 6

t marry James, but saying the words out loud was only the beginning. Now, she had to face the consequences, not just for herself, but for e

tations had been sent, the church reserved, and the entire town of Marlow seemed to hum with anticipation for the grand event. Everyone expe

h the surface, she was unraveling. She found herself stealing away to the river whenever she could, seeking the solace of the quiet water an

se that was harder and harder to keep secret. And with the wedding looming, Emma knew that her time was running out. She

he wedding dinner, describing the intricate floral arrangements and seating charts in exhaustive detail. Her father, ever pragmatic, was

her mother's voice snappe

d. "I'm sorry, Mothe

asking if you've finalized your gown fittings. We need to make sure every

her with a sense of dread she couldn't shake. How could this be the most impo

orrow," Emma said quietly, hop

she didn't press the issue. "Go

heart heavy with the weight of her secret. She couldn't keep living this lie. She couldn't marry James when her heart belonged to someone

im, to leave Marlow and its suffocating expectations behind. The idea filled her with a sense of freedom she had never kno

from her thoughts. Emma turned to find Clara st

, as though she were afraid of

to come in. Clara crossed the room and sat on

said carefully. "I know you're nervous ab

ns of their family's expectations, but now, standing on the precipice of her

id, though her voic

"Emma, you can tell me if something's wrong. You'v

orbidden love that had upended her life. But she couldn't bring herself to say the words. Clara w

er voice barely above a whisper. "There's so mu

grip gentle but firm. "You don't have to b

onging. She wanted to be happy, but she wasn't sure if that was even possible

th thoughts of Matthew and James, of duty and desire. She knew she couldn't kee

standing outside the tailor's shop, talking with some townspeople, his posture confident and composed. He

her and smiled, though it was the kind

s just talking with Mr. Cummings abo

. "Yes, it seems the whole t

, his expression unreadable. "

im the truth. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't looking forward to it, that she fe

said instead, h

ndered if he could sense her hesitation. But then he nodd

d, his tone polite but distant.

nstead, they filled her with a sense of dread. A good match. That was all this wedding was to him-an arrangement,

l, something alive. And though it terrifi

e time for secrets was running out, and soon, she would have to decide which path to take-the one of d

g the words out loud was only the beginning. Now, she had to face the consequences, not just for herself, but for everyone in

tations had been sent, the church reserved, and the entire town of Marlow seemed to hum with anticipation for the grand event. Everyone expe

h the surface, she was unraveling. She found herself stealing away to the river whenever she could, seeking the solace of the quiet water an

se that was harder and harder to keep secret. And with the wedding looming, Emma knew that her time was running out. She

he wedding dinner, describing the intricate floral arrangements and seating charts in exhaustive detail. Her father, ever pragmatic, was

her mother's voice snappe

d. "I'm sorry, Mothe

asking if you've finalized your gown fittings. We need to make sure every

her with a sense of dread she couldn't shake. How could this be the most impo

orrow," Emma said quietly, hop

she didn't press the issue. "Go

heart heavy with the weight of her secret. She couldn't keep living this lie. She couldn't marry James when her heart belonged to someone

im, to leave Marlow and its suffocating expectations behind. The idea filled her with a sense of freedom she had never kno

from her thoughts. Emma turned to find Clara st

, as though she were afraid of

to come in. Clara crossed the room and sat on

said carefully. "I know you're nervous ab

ns of their family's expectations, but now, standing on the precipice of her

id, though her voic

"Emma, you can tell me if something's wrong. You'v

orbidden love that had upended her life. But she couldn't bring herself to say the words. Clara w

er voice barely above a whisper. "There's so mu

grip gentle but firm. "You don't have to b

onging. She wanted to be happy, but she wasn't sure if that was even possible

th thoughts of Matthew and James, of duty and desire. She knew she couldn't kee

standing outside the tailor's shop, talking with some townspeople, his posture confident and composed. He

her and smiled, though it was the kind

s just talking with Mr. Cummings abo

. "Yes, it seems the whole t

, his expression unreadable. "

im the truth. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't looking forward to it, that she fe

said instead, h

ndered if he could sense her hesitation. But then he nodd

d, his tone polite but distant.

nstead, they filled her with a sense of dread. A good match. That was all this wedding was to him-an arrangement,

l, something alive. And though it terrifi

e time for secrets was running out, and soon, she would have to decide which path to take-the one of d