Elijah's face instantly turned livid as he stared at his daughter. "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Yes, Father." Corinna nodded vigorously. "I love Twaite. I want to marry him."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Elijah suppressed his fury. "He's only a tailor's son, and now he's crippled. He has no right to marry you..."
Corinna cast off her usual timidity and interrupted him loudly:
"No, Father. He is a respected warrior, a hero of France. This time, he even received the Silver Iris Medal. He is worthy of anyone's love!"
Elijah was startled by his daughter's forcefulness. He raised a hand and pressed it downward. "Calm down, dear. You need to understand—he's missing a hand. He can't do anything. Are you planning to starve alongside him?"
Corinna drew a deep breath. "Do you know how he was injured?
"When he charged Cologne Fortress, he used all his strength to shove aside the enemy cannon's muzzle. At the time, that cannon was aimed at hundreds of French Soldiers. He saved them!
"But the cannon was already glowing red-hot. His entire left hand was burned beyond repair...
"He is the greatest warrior in my heart. I don't want to miss my chance with him, even if we have to go hungry afterward."
"You... you've completely lost your senses!"
Corinna continued, "Actually, you don't need to worry about us. Twaite has an allowance, and I can earn money too."
"What use is that little money?" Elijah snapped. "It isn't even enough to pay Old John's wages!
"And that tailor's son has no noble title. He can forget about ever becoming an officer. What can a lowly crippled common soldier possibly do?"
Corinna enunciated every word. "Father, I'll say it one more time. He is a respected hero. Please do not call him