An idea struck May Sutton, and she pulled Cecilia aside. "Cecilia, if you put in a good word for me, I won't tell Ian about your aunt accepting someone's betrothal gift to marry you off."
Cecilia Adler scoffed. "You can't possibly think he's so petty that he'd care about my aunt accepting a betrothal gift for me, can you?! You're an educated woman; you should understand the old ways—a parent's command, a matchmaker's word—better than I do. Besides, my aunt is not my mother. The fact that her personal actions are what you're using as a threat just shows how desperate you are."
May Sutton: "..."
Cecilia added, "Ian said he won't forgive you. Please leave."
May Sutton left, defeated.
As soon as she was gone, Ian Quincy asked, "What did she say to you?"
"A couple of years ago, my aunt secretly accepted a betrothal gift for me..." Cecilia told him frankly. "Does it bother you?"
