Snippet #1718184

**

"Pierre, it is not what you think..."

Her brother was fuming. He looked completely out of control when she got back. He had seen her go into the prison of Bordeaux, and he had been watching when she left. He offered to drie her home, and Ariane didn't think to object. Now she wishes that she had. He had found out about William.

"You are a besmirched… You are the devil!" Pierre sputtered, looking at his younger sister with nothing less than hatred. Ariane sighed, heartbroken, having to choose between two people that she loved.

"What is so wrong?" She pressed. "Please. Why-"

"He is a filthy English-man." Pierre spat, uttering the last part, as if it were the gravest insult in the world. "An English-man took away my brother and father, Ariane. My fiancé was raped. When she found out she was pregnant with an English child, she killed herself. And my sister, you're still young... and you're marrying such garbage!"

"I'm not so young." Ariane shot back, anger rising in her cheeks. "Girls like me marry young before we lose our fertility."

But Pierre didn't look at her anymore, but his shoulders were shaking, like a broken bow across his back, as if he had just made a choice that he wishes he didn't have to make. Ariane wanted to ask him if he wanted to talk, but she made herself stay put, and keep her mouth shut. Pierre was choosing between honor and family.

Ariane knew he would choose honor.

**

Nodding thanks to Mr. Lefebvre, Ariane entered the rickety boat, holding her broken arm gingerly. She hoped they would make it. She curled into a little ball in a corner, pulled her hood up to hide her eyes, and slept.