“You’ll disrupt the entire household even further if you continue with this childish behavior,” Celeste scolded her.
“Childish behavior?” Theodore asked.
“Yes. The Duke has proposed marriage to her and she, in her infinite wisdom, has refused him and now continues to act as a child, feigning illness and refusing to come to dinner. It’s an embarrassment, Teddy, we will be considered socially inept.”
“Has he? And you have said no? May I know your reasoning?” he asked Celine.
“No,” she said, crossing her arms.
“I must insist,” Theodore said.
Celine remained silent. “Celine, while your father is away, you are under our care. Now, I must insist that you give me your reasoning for what I consider to be a very foolish decision.”
Celeste answered for her. “She was blubbering earlier about him being rough with her and about love. Have you ever heard a more ridiculous reason for marriage?”
“Celine, I will speak plainly to you. As your brother-in-law, I care for you. I want to see you succeed and settle into a good marriage. This is a good match offering you a good position and incredible wealth, love will come later. I would be remiss in my duties as your guardian if I did not stop you from making a grave error.”
“I will not marry him.”
“You are being impossible,” Celeste said, her face growing red with frustration.
“Can you give me a reason you cannot marry him?” Theodore asked her. She did not answer. “Perhaps another man? Perhaps Mr. Carlyle? Is there an understanding between you?”
Celine considered the question. Lying would provide the easiest solution. However, she did not want to thrust that position on Michael. It would be unfair to him, particularly if the Duke challenged him for her hand. “No, there is no understanding.”
“Well, then there is no obstacle preventing you from accepting the Duke. I must insist that you dress at once and find your way to dinner. I also urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider and accept the offer, assuming it still stands with the utmost haste,” Theodore said.
“Perhaps it does not. And would you wish me limp in my chair, having fainted away from illness at the dinner table?”
“It wouldn’t hurt, perhaps Duke Northcott will take pity on you and forgive your error in judgment,” Celeste said.
“Either way, Celine, I must insist that you dress and attend dinner and I encourage you to make an opportunity to speak with the Duke in private following dinner. Even if you are still wavering on an answer, tell him you were too hasty and are considering his offer,” Theodore said.
“Yes, ill or not, it’s time you grow up, Celine, you can’t claim illness and hide yourself away at every turn. You are soon to be a married woman if all goes well and you will need to learn to manage your moods and be a gracious hostess and dependable wife,” Celeste advised. “Now, come,” she said, calming her voice, “I shall help you ready yourself. Perhaps the rose dress, it brings out the pink in your skin, it will make you look quite becoming for Duke Northcott.”
“Why must I? Have I no rights to my own opinion? No ability to make my own life?”
“Celine! My patience is wearing thin,” Theodore said with a clenched jaw. “Must I resort to threats to encourage appropriate behavior? Perhaps the Carlyles create too much of a distraction. You spend a great deal of time with them. Perhaps I need to ask them to leave at once, maybe this will allow your mind to focus.”
“No. You mustn’t,” Celine begged.
“I must if I consider it in the best interest to those in this household,” Theodore threatened. “There’s a good girl,” Theodore said to Celine as she plopped herself in front of her dressing table.
Theodore exited the room, rejoining the men downstairs.
“I hope there isn’t a problem?” Duke Northcott inquired as he entered the room.
“No,” he assured him with a smile, “just a little indecision over which dress is most becoming for the evening.”
“Ah, I can’t imagine either woman in an unbecoming ensemble,” Duke Northcott said.
“Well, you know women, everything has to be just right, particularly when the evening is important,” he hinted. “The poor girl has herself in quite the tizzy over it. Luckily my beautiful Celeste is an expert in such matters and should have everything smoothed over soon.”
The two women entered the room within a few moments. True to his word, Celeste had Celine pulled together smartly in a rose gown and bejeweled hair barrettes. “My deepest apologies,” she said to everyone.
“There is no need to apologize, Mrs. VanWoodsen,” Duke Northcott said, approaching Celine, “you were both worth the wait.” He kissed Celine’s hand.
“How kind of you, Duke Northcott. What an understanding man you are,” she answered, shooting Celine a glance.
“Careful, my dear, I may become jealous,” Theodore said, laughing. “Shall we? I believe Cook may become impatient with us.”
They entered the dining room. Polite dinner conversation was made, as usual, before the ladies went through to the sitting room to play cards while the men enjoyed a final drink and a cigar. Before joining the ladies, Duke Northcott asked if he could speak with Theodore, sending Michael and Damien to the sitting room ahead of them.
“I assume you’ve heard by now that I offered marriage to Celine?” Duke Northcott asked once alone.
“Yes, I did. I advised her, as did Celeste, that it is in her best interest to accept the offer. It is my understanding that she is considering it.”
“She has declined my offer.”
“A childish and impulsive reaction, I’m sure. The poor girl doubtless didn’t know what to say, you are quite an imposing man.”
“Don’t patronize me, Theodore, I am not in the mood. Either way, we must proceed. I will not take any chances. Since she has not expressed interest on her own, we proceed as
