She struggled, twisting away from his grasp. She backed away from him before turning to run to the house. “I can offer you the world, Celine,” he called after her. “Don’t be a fool.”
Celine ran to the house, shutting the sunlight out with the large wooden front doors. She was breathless and tears spilled from her eyes. Celeste was making her way down the stairs. She rushed to Celine, taking her in her arms. “Mon chérie, Celine, whatever is the matter? Are you ill again?” Celine clung to her, sobbing. “Oh, my darling, let me take you to your room to rest.” Celeste helped her up the stairs. She was too bleary-eyed to notice Michael and Damien slipping from the Duke’s room and into their own. Celeste was too concerned tending to her distraught sister to have noticed them either.
Celine collapsed onto her bed, catching her breath as Celeste stroked her hair. “Now, my darling, please tell me what has happened to trouble you so.”
“Duke Northcott has proposed marriage.”
“Oh, Celine, that’s wonderful news! These are not tears of joy?”
“They are not.”
“Why ever not? He’s quite the catch, many women have tried and failed to catch his eye.”
“Celeste, there is something amiss about him, something wrong.”
“Wrong? I don’t understand.”
“Yes, wrong. Celeste, he told me he could offer me eternal life, he said he could make me powerful enough to rule the world at his side. These aren’t normal things, Celeste.”
“I’m sure he meant that he is an incredibly powerful man. He is well-bred. He possesses a fortune and good position. He is fifth in line to the British throne! It would be a very good match if you became his wife, Celine. You would want for nothing. You would be the toast of society.”
“No, he told me that but then he told me that through the dark arts he could offer me more.”
“Celine, you’re being childish. It is a good offer, take it.”
Celine was skeptical, eyeing Celeste incredulously. The words from the letter she had received echoed through her mind. Do not trust your sister, Celeste. Celeste continued her lecture, “You grew up with no mother, and I tried to be the best substitute, yet I know I was not a suitable replacement, but even so your behavior is untenable. You must settle at some point, you cannot continue this childish behavior of refusing to even consider suitors. Furthermore, the Duke’s offer is something to be grasped at, not avoided. Few women can claim such prizes.”
“What of love?” Celine asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the Duke’s promises.
“Love is for children’s books and fairy tales. Appropriate marriages are never begun based on love. Love will come later, when you are settled and provided for.”
“He was rather violent with me, Celeste. When I refused him, he grabbed at me, I think he bruised my arm.”
“Is it any wonder? I’m certain he’s not used to being told no, assuredly not when he is making such a generous overture. I’d say he showed incredible restraint.” Celine didn’t answer, she was frustrated and feeling betrayed. Celeste stood up, handing her a handkerchief. “Dry your eyes and make yourself presentable. Spend the afternoon in serious consideration of your life. This evening after dinner, I expect you to accept the Duke’s offer.” With her final comments made, she left the room, slamming the door behind her.
Celine wiped her eyes and used the washbasin to splash cold water onto her face. She fixed her hair and tried her best to cover her red eyes and nose. When she was presentable again, she peeked into the hallway, hearing and seeing no one, she tiptoed down the hall and tapped on Michael’s door. Within a few moments, the door opened, and she darted inside.
“What happened?” Damien asked, rushing to her.
“Did you find the book?”
“No luck,” Michael said, “we searched high and low, not a trace of it. What happened? You were crying when you came back.”
“I’m fine, I was just, ah, shocked.”
“What happened?” Michael pressed.
“He proposed marriage. He wasn’t happy when I turned him down.”
“Did he hurt you?” Damien asked.
“Not much. Although I did not give him an opportunity to do worse.”
“Is your sister asking him to leave? I saw her with you, did you tell her?” Michael questioned.
“Yes.”
“And is she asking him to go?” he pressed.
“No. She has advised me to accept his offer and would like me to do so this evening after dinner.”
“What? That’s crazy!” Damien said. “He’s deranged, why would your sister want you to marry someone who hurt you?”
“She thinks he showed considerable restraint in not doing more. I do not plan to change my mind, no matter what she says. I will skip dinner this evening so as not to cause any scenes.”
“We’ll be here for you, Celine. We’ll make sure you’re okay,” Michael said.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling up at them. “Please excuse me, I would like to lie down. Since I plan to avoid dinner, I will see you tomorrow morning.”
“We will check on you later. Get some rest,” Michael said.
Chapter 28
Michael and Damien made their way down to the sitting room for cocktails before dinner. They found themselves met with only the men, both ladies conspicuously absent. Theodore apologized for the lack of beauty in the room with Duke Northcott commenting that the ladies were likely fussing over their clothes or hair. The gentlemen shared a laugh over their brandy. After several more moments, Theodore excused himself to check on them.
Heading upstairs, Theodore overheard arguing coming from Celine’s room. He announced himself at the door before entering. Inside, he found Celine in a dressing gown and an exasperated Celeste in her eveningwear. Upon seeing the scene, he bellowed, “What is the meaning of this?”
Celeste breathed a frustrated sigh. “She is not coming to dinner, she claims she’s ill.”
“Ill?” He turned to Celine. “Is this true?”
“Yes, I’m not well, rather
