"What?" Carcel asked.
The word was barely a whisper. It was a breath of pure disbelief. He looked as if she had just spoken in a language he did not understand.
Ines clasped her hands tighter together, her knuckles aching. She had to say it again. She had to be strong for both of them.
"Let's not…" she stammered, her voice trembling just a little. She took a breath and forced herself to be firm. "Let's not go through with the marriage."
Carcel closed his eyes. He raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of profound, weary frustration. He looked like a man trying to wake himself up from a very bad dream.
"I don't understand," he said, his voice tight. "I don't understand why you are saying this. Everything was… everything was settled."
"Our marriage," Ines said, looking at the floor because she couldn't bear to look at his hurt face, "won't have love. I… I don't think it's right. You deserve better than a trap, Carcel. You deserve freedom."
