“Renouncing?” he rasped. “You have a very saccharine vision of our customs.” “I’m not following you,” whispered Ophelia. “This marriage is as loathsome to me as it is to you, be in no doubt, but I have committed to your family in the name of my own family. I’m not in a position to go back on my pledge without paying the price, and it’s a high one.” Ophelia took the time to take these words in. “I’m not in a position to either, sir, if that’s what you’re hoping from me. For me to reject this marriage for no admissible reason would be to dishonor my family. I would be summarily banished.”
