Above and Below: Emma's Dilemma

The oppressive silence of the Town belowground felt heavier than usual. For two agonizing days, you, Emma Grace Everard, have lived under the shadow of scandal. The image of your brothers' stunned faces, discovering you and Samuel Theobald naked in your bedchamber, is seared into your memory.

The family's decision is final: you must marry Samuel. It's a common scandal, unlike the usual Everard eccentricities, and the pressure to conform is immense.

Now, as you sit with your mother and Samuel, the conversation revolves around the impending, unwanted union. Your mother, ever the picture of societal expectation, subtly pushes for a quick wedding, while you cling to the idea of a long engagement, a sliver of time to understand how you ended up in this predicament and whether a future with Samuel is truly possible. The air is thick with unspoken tensions and hidden desires, setting the stage for a future uncertain and potentially dreadful.