Chapter 1 #2
Her mother was right in many ways. Not so long ago, Celestine was the very embodiment of what a young lady should be. She was polite. She was agreeable. What was more, she wanted to meet a man and fall in love. She was proud to say it!
Now, with all that had happened, Celestine had developed a new reputation, and a new nickname to go with it. Those who knew of her, and those who did not, referred to her as the ‘Mad Hargrave Sister.’
Not the most original name, but not entirely wrong either.
“Speaking of my sisters,” Celestine started, wanting to change the topic from herself. “I have just spoken with Marigold, and she wishes for me to… what? What are you looking at?”
Her mother’s attention moved over Celestine’s shoulder, searching out a commotion that took place across the ballroom. Celestine turned to follow her gaze, and she immediately saw the cause.
The Duke of Blackthorne was one of the more well-known men throughout the ton, but just like with Celestine, it was for all the wrong reasons.
He was a known rake and a scoundrel, the type who was said to have left a litany of women in his wake…
and one who would leave a dozen more before he was done.
Worse than that, rumor said that he owned his own gaming hell, and that he took pleasure in bankrupting men of his own class for the simple reason that it gave him power over them.
Oh yes, he looked the part too!
Even from a distance, he stood out like a storm on a placid horizon.
Taller than most, his shoulders were expansive and strong.
His gait was powerful so that people moved out of the way as if to get too near might see them squashed.
His face was square-shaped, his jaw was like an anvil, and his eyes were so grey that they were almost black.
Handsome, obviously, but aware of it. He likes that people notice them, and he loves that people fear him.
“Oh no…” Celestine’s mother said with a quake in her voice. “He is coming this way… oh no.”
Indeed, Celestine watched as the Duke found them at the end of the ballroom. A smirk rose up his full lips, satisfaction found in his eyes, and he started across the room. As he walked, the crowd parted and many looked away, desperate to appear busy so that he would not speak to them.
“Please, Celestine, whatever you do, behave yourself!” her mother whispered.
“I am not afraid of His Grace,” she said, even as her heart started to thump against her chest.
“You ought to be,” her mother said. “Do not antagonize the man. Best that he not notice you at all.”
Celestine frowned at her mother, surprised by how terrified she was. Her mother was one of the most assured people who she knew, so to see her behave that way was telling.
At the very least, it suggested to Celestine that even her mother would not dare and try to pair her daughters with the Duke. No mother would wish such a thing upon their own kin.
Celestine was still looking curiously at her mother when the Duke appeared before them. She felt him… a coldness that swept over her… the sense that was the sun shining in the sky, his mere presence would blot it out and demand night take over.
“Lady Fairbrook,” the Duke said strictly, his voice deep like a clap of thunder. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
“As it is you, Your Grace.” Her mother offered a meek curtsey. “Are you enjoying yourself this evening?”
“I hope to…” His grey eyes found Celestine and while she tried to meet his stare as if to warn him away, she found herself glancing down as if in fear. “But that all depends, really.”
“Yes, well…” Her mother took Celestine’s hand. “I am so sorry to do this, but I am afraid that my daughter and I were just –”
“Miss Celestine, yes?” he cut her mother off. “I do not believe we have had the pleasure?”
“Nor will we,” Celestine said with a fake smile.
“Celestine!”
The Duke chuckled. “It is so refreshing when rumor proves true…” His grey eyes worked her over in assessment. “So rarely am I surprised that it makes for a far more entertaining evening.”
“I am happy to have been of service,” she said, holding her fake smile, forcing herself not to look away.
He held her stare; amusement passed behind his eyes. Then, he looked away as if bored and landed back on Celestine’s mother. “I am glad to have found you, Lady Fairbrook. My hope is that you might point me in the direction of your daughter.”
“My daughter?” Her mother’s voice cracked. “May I ask why?”
“Or which,” he said with a chuckle. “Miss Marigold is here, no? Although I cannot see her anywhere…” He turned his head and looked around the ballroom. “I was hoping to ask her to dance with me, but it is hard to do if she is hiding.”
“You… you wish to dance with her?” Celestine’s mother appeared terrified by the prospect.
The Duke was indeed an intimidating figure. The type who always got what he wanted. The type who did not know the meaning of the word ‘no’ and even if he did, saw it as a challenge.
Celestine looked coldly at the Duke. Where most young women would bow their heads and do as they were told, Celestine was not most women. She had one goal in this life, to protect her sisters, and men such as the Duke were exactly who she needed to protect them from.
What is the point of being known as the Mad Hargrave Sister if you do not take advantage of it, Celestine…
“I will save you the effort, Your Grace.” Celestine stood up to the Duke. “Where you might wish to dance with my sister, I can assure you that she does not wish to dance with you.”
“Celestine!” her mother gasped.
The Duke frowned with amusement at her. “Is that so?”
“I have no doubt that there are a dozen other women who might be more willing,” she continued. “Barring that, who might not have the courage to deny you. But my sister is not one of them.”
“You sound awfully sure.”
“I have never been more sure,” she continued bravely, even as her body trembled with fear. “We do appreciate the offer, just as we have no choice but to refuse it.” She widened her eyes at the Duke.
He did not tremble at her glare. He did not look even remotely put out. Again, he appeared amused, perhaps even confused, as if unable to understand what was happening or why.
“Isn’t that a pity,” he said finally and slowly. “But if that is the case, well, I might have to reconsider my dancing partner.” His grey eyes flicked over Celestine. “I wonder, you are not refusing me your sister because you hope to take her place, are you?”
“Not even a little bit.”
He tilted his head and frowned. His eyes did not leave her once. And Celestine braced herself for the argument, the moment when he told her that he cared not for her opinion, and that he would dance with Marigold whether she wanted it or not.
“Very well,” he said simply. “Sorry to disturb you both, and might you have a pleasant evening.” A final look of amusement, with a touch of confusion, and the Duke turned and walked away.
Celestine took a deep breath and she just about collapsed.
“Celestine!” her mother grabbed her arm. “What were you thinking? You cannot speak that way to His Grace!”
“I just did.”
Her mother groaned. “He is not a man to be made a fool of, Celestine. This is not good… not good at all.”
“Let him be upset with me…” She turned and watched the Duke walk through the crowd; they moved for him without question. “Better that than risk Marigold ending up as one of his conquests.”
About to turn back toward her mother, Celestine’s eyes fell to the ground where she noticed a piece of folded parchment. She frowned at it and then realized quickly that it must have been dropped by the Duke.
“What are you doing?” her mother hissed as Celestine picked it up.
“The Duke…” She unfolded the parchment. “He dropped… oh my.”
The piece of parchment had at its top a heading that read ‘Not to fall in love with at any cost…’ That made Celestine smirk, as she related a little too well to the notion. But then she read further and her stomach dropped.
The parchment contained a list of a dozen women. Written beside their names were various qualities; obedient, homely, well-liked, known to be troublesome. Some names were scratched off, others were unlined, and all were women who Celestine knew.
Worse of all, and that which made her gasp, was the inclusion of Marigold’s name. The words ‘outspoken’ ‘stubborn’ and ‘challenging’ were written beside her name, but that it was underlined twice was cause enough for alarm.
“What is it?” her mother asked. “What does it say?”
Celestine thought quickly. Clearly, the Duke was making a list of his future conquests, and if this list was anything to go by, her sister was one who he had his eye on. I must stop him!
“Celestine! Where are you going?” her mother called.