“Yes. Although I think you may find that she may have come ‘round to the idea now.”
“We shall see. What of the two Carlyle gentlemen? Have they been approached?”
“No, but I plan to this evening.”
“Good,” he said, turning to leave the dining room.
Theodore and Duke Northcott joined the others in the sitting room. They found the four engaged in a game of cards.
“Oh, Celine,” Theodore said, already sipping a brandy, “I’m sorry to delay you, I know you wanted to take a walk this evening.”
Celine’s heart sank. She was hoping to avoid this, but Theodore would not allow her to get away without facing it. “Yes,” she said, reluctance filling her voice.
“I could accompany you, I’d like to get some fresh air, too,” Michael said, standing.
“Oh, Mr. Carlyle,” Theodore said, holding a hand up, “I was hoping to discuss a rather important matter with you and your brother.”
Celine forced a weak smile. “Thank you, Mr. Carlyle, for your kind offer, but perhaps Duke Northcott would be kind enough to accompany me since you are unavailable.”
“I would be only too happy to,” Duke Northcott said, nodding toward Celine.
“You may want a shawl, sister dear, you wouldn’t want to catch a chill. If you come with me, I will fetch mine for you to borrow. Duke Northcott, if you would be so kind as to meet us in the foyer, I promise we will not be more than a moment.”
“Of course, Mrs. VanWoodsen.”
Celeste guided Celine from the room and up the stairs to her bedroom, retrieving a shawl and wrapping it around her sister’s shoulders. “Be charming, Celine. Apologize for being too hasty, beg his forgiveness, and accept him. If he should question you, tell him you were feeling ill and exercised poor judgment, but make him aware that it is only on the rarest of occasions you do this. Don’t be foolish, Celine. I shall look forward to a blushing announcement of engagement from you when you return.” Celeste fussed with her hair, pinched her cheeks to give them color, and pushed the bust line of her dress down just a tad. “There, I think that should do.” She turned her around, pushed her out the door and down the stairs toward the waiting man.
Celine felt as though she were being ushered to the gallows, every step another one closer to her doom. The words in the letter reverberated in her mind constantly, warning her not to trust Duke Northcott, Theodore or Celeste, urging her not to give in to him. If she didn’t, Theodore had threatened to remove her only two allies. Sometimes winning the war was more important than winning the battle. She plastered a smile across her face and approached him across the foyer.
Smiling, he offered her his arm and she, feigning graciousness, accepted it. Celine glanced back at her sister who nodded to her as they made their way out the door.
“Everything is so beautiful in the moonlight, wouldn’t you agree, Celine?” he said as they entered the garden.
“Yes, it casts a romantic glow,” she said before taking a deep breath and beginning her performance. She stopped walking, turning to face the Duke. Her heart beat hard in her chest. She hoped he didn’t notice the sweat forming on her brow as her nervous instincts went to fever pitch. She glanced down at the ground then up to him. “Duke Northcott,” she began, then fluttered her eyelashes as she had seen her sister do so many times when charming a man, “Marcus.” She offered a small smile. “I must apologize for my behavior earlier and beg your forgiveness.” She paused, unsure if she could continue without choking on the words. “I haven’t been feeling well and I believe it has had an unintended effect on my judgment.”
Duke Northcott tilted his head, considering her words. “Have you a different answer than you had earlier?”
“Have you the same offer?” she asked demurely.
“Yes, my offer remains unchanged.”
“Then I should choose to accept it. Oh, please know that I am not always so imprudent in my decisions.”
“I should hope not. I will need my wife to be a sensible woman. Let us consider the matter forgotten and begin our engagement with a fresh start, shall we?”
“I would appreciate that very much. You are an understanding man, Marcus,” Celine said, choking back the bile creeping up into her throat.
Duke Northcott leaned forward, sweeping her into his arms. He kissed her lips hard. “Together, my dearest Celine, we will conquer the world.” She smiled at him. “But I shall need you to trust me and obey me, do you understand?”
She nodded. He smiled at her. “Tomorrow we shall wed and I shall secure your place next to me for eternity.”
“Tomorrow?” she asked, shocked.
“Yes, Celine. There is no reason to wait. Tomorrow on your sixteenth birthday you shall become my wife for all of eternity.”
Celine was in absolute shock. She had planned a long engagement in light of her father’s absence, then she could fulfill the obligations tasked in the letter, return home and break off the engagement. “My father is away, we mustn’t marry without him.”
“Oh, my darling, he’ll understand.”
“No!” Celine said, pulling away from him.
“Celine,” he said, growing serious. “Do not test my patience, again.”
She set her jaw, turning to face him, no more demure looks, no more batting eyelashes. “No.”
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close to him. “Do not dare to defy me again, Celine. You try my patience. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior.”
She pulled at her arm, trying to break free of his grip. ‘’You’re hurting me,” she squealed.
“I shall do more than that if you don’t learn to obey me, my dear. I will soon be your husband and you my wife, you will obey me!”
She struggled and broke free, taking a few steps back. “I will not obey you! And I will not marry you!” she shouted before fleeing back to the house.
Celeste, Celine and Duke Northcott left
