Chapter 19 #2
“Two more days,” the dowager announced as she entered the quiet drawing room.
Her joyful voice was a stark contrast to the eerie silence that enveloped Greystone’s manor. She could not leave the manor for safety reasons, and with all the guests gone and no distractions, Deena felt the walls close in on her as her wedding day drew nearer.
Wedding day.
Deena’s mouth suddenly felt dry. So much had happened in so little time, but her mind never stayed in the present. Her last night with Austin and the sudden proposal left her confused and bothered.
Deena gulped. When Austin did not occupy her mind, Penelope did. She had sent letter after letter to her beloved friend, but still received no response and heard no news about her and her unborn child’s well-being. Deena could not ignore the sharp pang of guilt in her heart.
It’s all my fault.
“Have you heard me, darling?” Deena was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed the way her grandmother approached and held her hands.
“Yes, Grandmother, the wedding will take place in two days.” She offered her a small smile, but her grandmother saw right through her.
She lifted a frail hand and brushed away a stray curl. “You are a strong woman, you know that?”
Deena was taken aback by her sweet words.
“Thank you, Grandmother. I…needed to hear that.”
She gave Deena’s hands one last squeeze before continuing.
“ The special license has been arranged. Selina is on her way with your gown. The quiet ceremony will take place here in the family chapel, and we’ll make an immediate announcement afterward.
No delays, no fuss, and no room for the gossips to twist it further. ”
“Is Aunt Dee getting married?” Deena and her grandmother froze.
They turned simultaneously to find Percy grinning and looking up at them expectantly. Dominic stood behind him, tall, pensive, and brooding.
The dowager smiled indulgently. “Yes, your Aunt Deena is getting married, darling.”
Percy’s mouth formed a perfect circle. “Are you marrying the King of England?”
Deena laughed, and it felt unnatural. “Sort of, sweetheart.”
Percy beamed at her. “Will you live in a castle?”
“Something like that,” she managed, pressing a kiss to his small forehead while her eyes stung.
Dominic cleared his throat. “Percy, love, time to go with Miss Elise. She’s waiting to take you to the nursery.”
Percy pouted but listened to his father. “Bye, Aunt Dee. Don’t forget to invite the King to my birthday.”
“I won’t,” she promised, voice thick with emotion.
The nurserymaid appeared, took Percy’s hand, and led him away. His small footsteps echoed down the corridor until they faded.
Silence settled over the three remaining adults.
The dowager strode briskly towards the door. “I’ll leave you to it. We have a wedding in two days, children. There’s plenty to do.”
She swept out, cane tapping a brisk rhythm with her walk. Deena stared at the door as if she’d return and save her from her brother’s broodiness. She wanted to say so much to him, but she could not bring herself to speak without crying.
Dominic paced the drawing room before he broke the silence. “How are you feeling about this, Dee? Truthfully.”
She swallowed. “I don’t know.”
He waited, but she remained silent. Dominic walked briskly to her and hugged her tightly. Deena was surprised, and she struggled to breathe, but she did not complain. “If you say no to this marriage, I will make a plan for you, Dee.”
“No, Dom. This is the right thing to do, for me and for us.” Her voice broke with emotion, “I just…hate that I’m dragging Austin into it, too.”
Dominic squeezed her once before letting go of her. “He offered, Dee. No one forced him.”
“He offered because he feels responsible. Because he’s your friend.” She looked up at her brother, eyes glistening.
Dominic’s expression softened. “All that matters is that you’re safe and, despite his reputation, I trust that Austin will protect you, no matter what.”
Deena recalled Austin kissing her, his touch both gentle and insistent, and the way he gazed at her as she lay before him.
Did he protect me then?
Before she could respond, the door opened, and Selina entered with an army of helpers. Their arms were full of white silk and lace.
She stopped when she saw Deena’s face. “Oh, darling.”
Deena tried to smile but failed.
Selina turned to her group of followers. “Go set the gown, veil, and jewelry carefully in her chambers.” She commanded them, and they dispersed immediately. “Come with me, Dee. Let’s look at your wedding gown in your room. Just the two of us.”
Deena glanced at Dominic.
He gave her a small, sad smile. “Go on. I’ll be here.”
She walked unsteadily and followed Selina, who spoke about her shopping experience.
Selina was used to making and sending dresses to Paris for Deena, without her being present at the boutique, so the dowager left her in charge of Deena’s wedding gown as well.
Deena was sure that the dress would be perfect, but the corridor to her chamber felt endless, and so did her troubled thoughts.
“Deena, this does not have to be an unhappy occasion. Austin cares for you…I see it, and Dominic sees it too, or he would never have agreed to this. Do not forget the friendship you two built during this time.” Selina looked at her with a gentle smile.
Deena nodded at her and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. When they had entered her chamber, the gown lay across the bed like an offering. It was a simple ivory dress. High-waisted, flowing silks, and delicate lace at the neckline and sleeves.
“It’s beautiful,” Deena whispered despite herself.
Selina touched her shoulder. “It will look even more beautiful on you.”
But Deena stared at the dress and felt conflicted. “I don’t deserve this.”
“Stop that. You deserve every good thing.” Selina turned her gently. “And Austin… he’s not doing this out of pity.”
Deena scoffed. “Then why is he marrying me, Selina?”
“He’s marrying to save you,” Selina said softly. “And that could only mean that he cares about you.”
Deena’s eyes filled, but she did not believe that the Velvet Duke cared about her or anyone. He wanted her, yes. She wanted him too, but caring and love was not on offer. Doubt entered her mind as she questioned their untimely wedding that was quickly approaching.
“What if he changes his mind, Selina? What if he wakes up in a month and remembers who I really am? The girl who was caught in a library. The girl who helped hide a pregnancy in a convent. The girl who—”
“The girl who is brave,” Selina interrupted gently. “The girl who is loyal. The girl who is kind even when the world hasn’t been kind to her.”
Deena shook her head. “I’m a burden.”
“You’re not.” Selina took her hands. “You’re a gift. To Dominic. To Percy. To Mary. And, if you let him, you could be a gift to Austin, too.”
Deena stared at the wedding dress again.
She thought of their kiss in the meadow where it all began.
The way he’d looked at her after, dazed, almost reverent, like she was something miraculous.
She thought of the blackmailer’s note and Penelope, alone and terrified wherever she may be.
She thought of Dominic’s sad smile downstairs and the stranger who was lurking everywhere, ever ready to hurt her and her family.
Tears threatened to fall, and she struggled to keep them back.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered.
Selina grabbed her hand. “You don’t have to know. You just have to try.”
Deena clung to her.
“I know you’re scared,” Selina murmured. “I am too, but we have to be strong for ourselves and for each other.”
Deena closed her eyes, doubt continued to fill her, but she couldn’t speak of it. She didn’t want to disappoint her family anymore.
Selina let go of her. “What else troubles you, Dee?”
She was a mind reader; Deena could never hide anything from her.
She sighed before she admitted the truth. “What if Austin goes back to his… rakish ways? What if he abandons me?”
Deena did not understand why it mattered at all if they were just marrying for convenience’s sake. But the thought of Austin being with someone else made her feel sick.
Selina smiled at her sweetly and said, “You never know, Dee. Austin might just surprise you.”