She continued almost belligerently. "I was going to be a wealthy widow, free from all the shackles of marriage. I had ambitious plans and if I ever chose to marry again it would be on my own terms. What I wanted most was financial freedom. I governed over all that I inherited and turned them from run down dilapidated messes to thriving properties with potential for growth. The sky was the limit and I had plans to dabble in both trade and politics to grow my various businesses. No matter how many marriage proposals I got I turned them all down, even managed to weasel out of Captain Herbert's many attempts to force me into marriage. All I wanted was my independence and to no longer be manipulated by any man for that matter."