Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Thalia was breaking her fast when she was informed that a guest had arrived at the estate. Naturally, she assumed the guest to be for her husband.
“I believe His Grace is upstairs,” she said with a sigh. “No doubt he is awake, if you wish to inform him.”
It should not have annoyed Thalia that Caspian did not join her this morning to break his fast, because that wasn’t the type of marriage that this was ever going to be. What was more, after last evening, she had come to accept as much.
Still… it would be nice if he put in some effort. I see now that I cannot change who he is, but does that mean he has to be so distant. How can I accept him for who he is if I am not even given the chance to do so?
“You misunderstand me, Your Grace,” the valet said. “The guest is here to see you. It is Lord Harrington, the Duke of Wexford. He asked specifically to see you.”
“Damien?” Thalia perked up, surprised to hear that her brother was here. “He is here?”
“Shall I bring him to see you?”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “And then inform the kitchen, in case he wishes to sup.”
The valet bowed his head and hurried from the room.
Thalia frowned as she considered the reason for this unexpected visit. It had been over a week now since she’d last seen her brother, the day of the wedding, in fact. She wondered if maybe he had come to check on her, his brotherly instinct wanting to know if things were going well for her.
She also wondered if his reasons were more sinister in nature, because she knew her brother well enough to know that he wouldn’t waste time coming all this way just to check on her wellbeing.
Indeed, when Damien strode into the breakfast room a moment later, she decided that her second instinct was correct.
“Damien.” She sat up and smiled warmly for her brother. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
The warmth she wore on her face was swatted away by the cold glare that her brother fixed on her. Rarely did Damien allow himself to show anger. The fact that he wore it so openly on his face right now was telling.
“I doubt you will be saying the same once you find out why I am here,” Damien growled.
Thalia did not flinch. “Would you like to eat? I have asked the kitchens to prepare something for you.”
“That will not be necessary.”
“Oh?”
“I won’t be here for long enough.” He stopped by where she sat, folded his arms, and looked down at her. “Is it true?”
She frowned up at him. “You might have to be clearer. I am sure many things are true.”
A deep breath, and she could see his body trembling. “What I have heard about Laurent and Lady Rosaline. Is it true?”
It took all the self-control that Thalia possessed not to gasp in surprise, or recoil in shame. She looked simply at her brother, no sense at all that anything was amiss.
“And what have you heard?” she asked simply.
“Thalia, do not play games with me.”
“I…” She thought quickly. To lie and try to save face? Or to admit the truth, knowing that any lie I tell will quickly become revealed… “I take it that you have heard from them?”
“Is it true?” he barked.
She winced. “Yes, it is true. Assuming that you are referring to their marriage.”
“Thalia…” Damien groaned and closed his eyes, more deep breathing in a vain effort to find calm. “How could you… why did you not tell me?”
“I did not think it was my place.”
“Of course it was your place!” he snapped. “You are the very reason –” He caught himself again, taking another deep breath. “I do not want to put the blame on you entirely, Thalia. But this is your doing. You are the one who –”
“I saved Rosaline,” she spoke over her brother. “That is all I did.”
“What you did was put into her head the notion that she could marry whomever she liked. And Laurent!” He was growing angry again.
“You know how susceptible he is! How romantic. The moment you hinted that there might be a chance that he and Lady Rosaline could be together, he fell over himself to help you.”
“Perhaps he is the one you should be speaking with?”
Damien was glowering at her. “Why did you not tell me?”
“Because I knew you would act this way.”
“That is not –” He caught his temper again, but he was still shaking. “Their marriage cannot stand. Lord Donmere will tear down the sky when he finds out. And as for Laurent? His entire future…” He shook his head at Thalia. “If I had known, I might have been able to stop it.”
“You know that would not have changed anything.”
“I don’t know that,” he snarled. “And now we will never know. By marrying the Duke, you did your part and for that I am grateful, Thalia. But this marriage has the potential to ruin our name. Tell me that you see that.”
She winced, unable to look upon her brother’s face. And not because of the anger he held, but the shame that he fixed her in.
Thalia did not regret what she had done. Even with this marriage going as poorly as it was, she would do the same thing again if the opportunity was presented. She had saved her best friend and her brother, giving them a chance to live together in happiness, and that was what mattered.
What did upset her was the judgment coming from her brother.
She and Damien had grown up in the same house, been subjected to the same mode of parenting, and were forced to suffer under their father’s coldness and complete lack of love.
Thalia had rebelled against it by turning into the woman she was, thumbing her nose at society and doing as she saw fit.
While Damien had done the opposite, rising to the tone their father set, almost becoming him in the process.
Unlike our father, he never wanted this. He became what he is to save us, even if he hates himself for how he is forced to act. All he has ever wanted is what is best…
“I am sorry,” she said, bowing her head in regret. “Truly, I am.”
“I know it,” Damien exhaled as the anger left him. “And I am sorry.”
“What for?”
“For what I am forced to do.”
Her head snapped up, and she frowned at her brother. “What… what are you going to do?”
“Your Grace.” Caspian appeared suddenly in the breakfast room. “This is unexpected.”
Damien turned and saw Caspian walking toward him. He straightened his posture and strode down the table. When they met in the middle, they took one another’s hand and shook firmly.
“I hope I am not disturbing you,” Damien said.
“Not at all…” He looked at Thalia and his eyebrow raised when he noticed the distraught look on her face. “But my feeling is that my wife cannot say the same.”
“I am afraid that this is not a conciliatory visit,” Damien sighed. “I have just stopped by to inform Thalia that my brother and Lady Rosaline’s recent whereabouts have been brought to my attention.”
“Is that so?”
“Damien, what are you going to do?” Thalia stood up and hurried down the table. “Tell me. What are you going to do?”
Damien looked between Thalia and Caspian. “You might as well hear it from me,” he said to Caspian. “But it has come to my attention that Lady Rosaline and Laurent have recently wed at Gretna Green.”
Caspian appeared. “That would explain their silence.”
“Indeed,” Damien agreed. “And it is because of this that I have no choice but to head north and insist that they return home with me. Laurent will not dare to say no, and Lady Rosaline will be more willing when she comes to understand that she either returns with me or with her father.”
“Damien.” Thalia grabbed Damien by the arm. “You cannot do that.”
Damien eyed her hand. “I can and I will.”
“Please…” Thalia was shaking. “You… if you do that, Rosaline’s father will –”
“Do whatever he wishes.” Damien wrenched his arm free. “She is his daughter, and he reserves the right to punish her as he sees fit. I am not the monster here, Thalia. Please, know that.”
“Please!” Thalia tried a final time. “Let me… I will go to them. If I can speak to Rosaline and explain to her –”
“What exactly?” Damien cut her off. “The damage has been done, Thalia. All that is left to do is try and fix it. Which is what I intend.”
Thalia felt her world crumbling around her as she looked at the future and what was likely to happen.
Laurent could take care of himself, and he was more than capable of standing up to Damien.
But Rosaline? If she was brought home and forced to face her father’s wrath, Thalia could not even begin to imagine the punishment she would be given.
“You can’t!” she cried and then looked at Caspian. “Caspian, tell him!”
Caspian looked unfazed by the interaction. “I am sorry, Thalia, but your brother is right.”
“No!”
“And it is not our place to get involved.”
“Please…” she whispered.
“I am sorry, Thalia,” Damien said. “Please, know that I am.”
He did not remain at the Amberhall Estate after that. With his piece said, having learned the truth about Lady Rosaline and his brother, Damien was quick to leave.
And all Thalia could do was watch him go, feeling utterly helpless like she had never known.
“We have to stop him…” She was trembling as she spoke, hardly even aware that Caspian was still in the room watching her. “If he… if Rosaline is brought home…”
“There is nothing to be done.”
“You don’t understand!” she cried out, feeling the pain in her chest. “Rosaline and Laurent are meant to be together! They love one another as the moon loves the night sky! They are soulmates!” Despite her best efforts, Thalia felt the tears starting to come.
They dripped down her cheek and stained the floor.
And she did not care. “I did not ruin your wedding because I wanted to. I did it because I had to. I did it for them!” She sniffed back the tears.
“In this world, it is so rare for two people…” More sniffing.
“And I thought if I could help them, if I could… if I could give them their happy ending…” Her chin wobbled furiously. “All I wanted was to help.”
Throughout her weeping, Caspian watched her silently.