Chapter 5
Afew hours later, Cordelia was gratefully descending from the family carriage at the front of her home. The ball was now over, and sleep was the only thing on her mind at the moment.
Well, not the only thing.
“Wasn’t it marvelous?” Danae cried as soon as they entered the foyer and were handing their things to the footman. She spun around, clasping her hands to her chest and sighing.
They didn’t have many staff left, but those who were able to remain were used to Danae’s antics.
“Danae, I think you are going to make yourself dizzy,” Emma reprimanded. “You have just danced for hours, and yet you wish for more?”
“I could dance for a lifetime,” Danae replied with a passionate sigh, floating the way to the sitting room.
Cordelia would have loved to sneak her way up the stairs to her bedroom, but her mother called for tea and took her arm to lead her bodily into the room. Fiona was never loud or sharp, but she had her ways of forcing conversation.
“And?” Cordelia asked her youngest sister as they all sat down with huffs of fatigue, piles of muslin, “did you find a soulmate this evening, then?” Cordelia was ready for any other discussion besides that of revealing to her family that she was engaged to the Duke of Meinster.
“Oh, ever so many,” Danae said, a wicked look in her blue eyes, and Emma rolled her eyes.
“But what I think is even more important, Cord,” Danae said with a bright smile and a mischievous look in her eyes, “is that you tell us where you went off to during the ball. You had been glued to edge of the ballroom all evening, hoping for some young man to come along, and then you were simply gone. Vanished.”
Cordelia blushed. Could she never be rid of this annoying habit? It frustrated her, revealed her feelings, and gave Nicholas far too much to tease her about. When her eyes caught her mother’s, she let her shoulders sink.
“Well, did you find yourself a potential suitor?” Fiona asked, hopefully, but Cordelia could tell there was a little worry in her voice.
After a moment, still unsure if she should believe it herself, she nodded.
“Well, that’s wonderful. Is it not?” Danae asked. “You had been needing to find someone and now here he is!”
Emma was not so keen to rush to celebration. “Please, tell us more, Cord. You’re leaving us all in suspense.”
Cordelia’s mouth went dry, and she glanced at the doorway, desperate for tea to magically appear. Or perhaps something stronger.
What could I have been thinking? The Duke of Meinster of all people?
“At the ball, I left to speak to the Duke of Meinster about some important business,” she began slowly, and both her sisters were leaning forward in their seats, even calm, controlled Emma looked as though she was hanging on her every word. “He had also heard about the will and his role in it.”
“I see.” A little line formed between her mother’s brows. “You were speaking alone with him?”
“Yes.” Cordelia breathed out slowly. “I know it was not proper, but it concerned the twins or so he told me, and so I followed him, hopeful that it would be a quick conversation.”
Danae rolled her eyes. “Come now, this is the longest story ever told! Please do get to the good part.”
Cordelia could not rebuke Danae’s bright, enthusiastic smile. “We discussed what occurred in the will, and then, he asked me to marry him.”
“What?!” All three women burst forth in the same exact manner at the same exact time.
“The Duke of Meinster?” Emma asked, surprised. “Why, he’s a rake. And you hate him!”
“Emma, you mustn’t speak ill of the man. I’ve never heard you use such language.”
“Forgive me, Mama, but I only mean to protect Cordelia. I know she was rushing into a marriage for the sake of the children, but to the duke? Are you certain about this? You have complained about him ever since Helen and David were courting.”
Cordelia folded her hands in her lap, wondering how on earth life had become so strange. It was all so true, and yet there she was, engaged. To the last person she’d ever expected.
“Yes, I know this. But you must understand. When he spoke to me in the library, he explained to me that while I had received the children, he had received the entire inheritance, including the estate.”
Once more the ladies reacted collectively, this time gasping in unison. “That is why the Duke of Wexford was furious that day,” Fiona said.
“Yes, he thought I had inherited the wealth as well as the children, and I did not know at the time who had.”
“But how confusing. Why should Helen and David do this? Split up their children and the money in such a way?”
Cordelia rose, feeling another frustrating blush steal over her cheeks.
She was embarrassed to reveal the duke’s theory about David and Helen’s plan.
She walked toward the window and crossed her arms, feeling hot and cold at the same time.
The moon was bright that evening and shone a soft light through the glass.
There was something that niggled at her ever since the proposal that evening. Nicholas had teased her mercilessly, but he had not seemed displeased at all by thoughts of marriage to her.
Perhaps because he is thrilled at the prospect of keeping me under his teasing thumb for the rest of his life.
That far too inappropriate image caused a new heat to rush through her, and she turned around, eager to get thoughts of Nicholas out of her mind, at least those kinds of thoughts.
“I don’t know, but Nicholas seems to think that it was on purpose. That they wished us to have to marry one another and bring the two things together.”
Tea thankfully arrived, and for a few moments, everyone was blessedly distracted by being handed cups of tea and passed small slices of cake. Cordelia took a few large sips, hopefully that somehow tea could restore her equilibrium.
Finally, her mother spoke again. “Well, it does seem that the duke is attempting to do the honorable thing. For he would certainly be within his rights to take the money and run. But are you certain, Cordelia? Marriage is a difficult thing, even for two people who love each other desperately, like your father and I did. Could you really tie yourself forever to someone you have nothing in common with? Even for the sake of these children?”
“What choice do I have?” Cordelia’s voice sounded more desperate and more resigned to her fate than she had expected.
It seemed like all the fight had drained out of her.
“I suppose something positive is that the duke is not a complete stranger, as I thought I would have to marry. I expect, in time, we could rub along well enough together.”
She sipped at her tea, amazed at the lie that dripped from her lips. Even if she was tired and overwhelmed, she was certain she could still find a way to fight daily with Nicholas.
“And what of all that marriage entails? The intimate portions of a couple’s life?” her mother asked tentatively, and this time, Emma was the one who blushed. Danae, however, looked delighted.
“Yes, do tell us about those details, Cordelia. How could you bring yourself to be with a man whom you so despise? Even if he is desperately handsome.” Danae pretended to swoon.
Her mother scolded Danae but only slightly, her eyes turning expectantly to Cordelia.
“It will be a marriage in name only, a white marriage. It was his suggestion.”
She had been grateful that he’d been the one to say the words, not her.
And she’d been utterly shocked at his agreement to a white marriage, although his teasing afterward had thoroughly unseated her.
The memory of his words, ‘when you finally beg for me’, still brought goosebumps to her skin, no matter how many times she replayed the moment in her mind.
Never. It will never happen. He would be far too smug about it anyway.
“Is that so?” Fiona asked. “How very interesting.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “Well, then he continues to be honorable.”
After a moment’s pause, Danae burst out, “Do you think that your marriage to a duke will help us as well?”
“Oh, for goodness’s sake, Danae! Could you ever say anything that is appropriate to the moment?”
“What’s wrong? It is a valid thought and question.” Danae always seemed unperturbed by Emma’s scolds, and that served only to further Emma’s annoyance.
“Well…” her mother began slowly, “it is very true that one of my daughters being married to a duke will help Emma’s and Danae’s marriage prospects.
But we mustn’t act as though we expect anything from him.
Both the duke and Cordelia have been forced into this situation, rather against their will, and so we must treat the circumstances with the respect they deserve. ”
Cordelia nodded. “Yes, I couldn’t bear to feel myself being beholden to Nicholas in any way. He does not owe us anything. Our marriage will be for the sake of the twins only.”
“Nicholas, is it?” Danae practically preened with delight.
Cordelia coughed. “His Grace, I mean.”
Danae giggled, and even if annoying, it lightened the mood for the moment.
“So, it seems that our problems are solved for the moment,” Cordelia said.
“However, I would appreciate if we could speak of anything else right now. I have much to ponder in the next few days before I go to retrieve the twins. And you all know, and as Mother said, this is not the way I expected my life to go. But this is far better than watching us scrimp and scrape to be able to take care of the twins.”
“Very well. We shall speak of something else,” Emma said, beginning a new topic.
Cordelia only listened with half an ear, chewing idly on a piece of cake and drinking another full cup of tea.
Her mind was racing with thoughts of what this odd future meant.
She had only thought about the children, and the husband was just to be an afterthought, a sort of mysterious figure who let her do as she pleased.
It was not meant to be Nicholas, who would most assuredly not allow himself to keep to the background.
When it was time for bed, her sisters bid her goodnight, but her mother asked her to stay for another moment. When the door closed, Fiona drew her into an embrace. Cordelia felt tears rush to be released, but she bit them back. Strength was her only way through this.
“Mama, I hope you are not disappointed in me. I know that I will not have a marriage like you and Father, and so it is barely a marriage, but it will keep the twins safe. It will give them a good life.”
Fiona stood back from her and held her hands, smiling at her.
“Your father would be so proud of you, my dear Cordelia. You have always been very sensible and proud and strong. You are sacrificing your own happiness for the sake of two young children who have just lost their parents. If the duke is willing to marry you for their sake as well, then perhaps there is a chance that this marriage could surprise you.”
Cordelia’s eyes widened, and she moved away, not even wanting to consider that. “Mama, I do not respect the man. He is a teasing cad, and he thinks only of his own handsomeness and which woman will turn his way next.”
“And yet, he has asked you to marry him to keep you in comfort and to help the children have a future.”
Cordelia bit her lip. No. She had to keep her distance from the duke, and anger at him was all she had. It was the only thing providing shape to her at the moment, keeping her upright while it seemed the world was crashing down around her.
“I only mean to encourage you.” Her mother approached her and kissed her on the cheek. “I hope you sleep well this evening. Let your mind rest. You have been through a lot.”
Cordelia watched as her mother left, closing the door softly, and then she sat down on the sofa once more. She had earlier been ready for bed but now she wasn’t sure she would ever get to sleep.
“Cord,” a voice said as they opened the door, and Cordelia turned to see Emma dressed for bed. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“Save your scolds for Danae, Em. I think I have had my fill of conversation this evening.”
Emma sat down, a hurt look on her face. “I did not come to scold. I only came to tell you that Mother has done something, something to help with the children.”
“What is it?” Cordelia asked in fear.
“She had hoped it would encourage you and keep you from having to search for a husband so suddenly, but she finally consented to selling father’s watch.”
Cordelia gasped. “No,” she breathed. “It has lain on his nightstand all these years.”
“I know.” Emma’s eyes were watery as she spoke. “But I thought you should know. We all wish for your happiness, Cord.”
Cordelia rose, a new fervor rising in her. “We will get it back for her, Em. I swear it. I will not let her lose the last personal item of our father.”
Emma stood as well, reaching for Cordelia’s hand. “I agree. Family sticks together.” She smiled. “I think the duke has no idea what he is in for. My sister is a secret firebrand. He will rue the day he argues with you.”
Cordelia chuckled. “Yes, I think I shall take some enjoyment in this. We are to be married, but I never agreed to be a submissive wife.”
The sisters laughed and walked up to bed arm in arm.