Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“Istill do not understand how this has happened?” Celestine’s mother cried out as she threw her hands in the air. “You told me that His Grace’s visit was on account of an apology. You said –”
“I know what I said, Mother.”
“Lies!” her mother continued. “And why, Celestine? That is what confuses me the most. Why lie? Why not tell me so that I could be better prepared?”
Celestine shrugged. “I do not see what difference it would make. The result is the same. I thought it was better to not get your hopes up.”
Her mother looked at Celestine as if she did not recognize her. Also, she looked at her as if… is that pride? No, certainly not.
“Either way, it is done,” Celestine said as she looked back to the mirror. “Now, if you are done chastising me, I need to get ready. His Grace will be here at any moment, and it is best not to keep him waiting.”
“Yes, yes.” Her mother swept toward her and began to adjust her gown. “No, no. Not like that. Here…” She pushed down Celestine’s hands and straightened out the neckline of the garment. “Like this, Celestine. Honestly, how you managed to catch His Grace’s attention at all is beyond me…”
Yes, her mother liked to be dramatic and act as if this was somehow a slight against her, but Celestine watched her closely as she helped her with the gown, and she noticed the slight smile on her mother’s lips.
Regardless of the Duke’s reputation, he was still a duke, and now that he was engaged to Celestine, everything would change.
The drama and chaos had started yesterday evening when Celestine returned from the garden party with her mother and her sisters. It was then, once they were free from prying eyes and ears, that she told them what had happened.
Rather, she told them a version of what had happened.
Her tale was one of a surprise kinship found with a man she ought to have hated.
As she told it, when she’d followed the Duke the night at the ball, they had started to speak earnestly to one another, soon discovering shared interests and mutual attraction that neither had seen coming.
His visit the following day was to ask permission to write to her, which they had been doing in secret all week.
Needless to say, when he had found her at the garden party and proposed, she had said yes without hesitation. Or so she claimed…
It was a little too easy for Celestine to spin such lies. And she took a little too much pleasure in seeing just how utterly bewildered her mother and sisters were. None of them could believe it, just as none of them dared to guess that there was more at play than what they were being told.
A day later and Celestine was still at pains to decide how she truly felt about it all. A night spent thinking on it, a day spent in consideration, and no answers were found, nor did she suspect they would be soon.
Not that I need answers. I am doing this for a good reason. One month… that is all I must suffer through and my life will be my own.
Today, however, was sure to help clear her thoughts a little.
As she and the Duke were engaged, it was time they acted like it. What was more, seeing as this engagement was purposefully designed to spark conversation among the ton and prove to all and sundry that both she and the Duke were not what they seemed, the two needed to be seen together.
Thus, Celestine and the Duke were set to go on a promenade together and then visit a popular tea shop where they were sure to be seen. No doubt it would be a long and arduous day, and Celestine forced herself to remember that she needed to be on her best behavior.
It does not matter what I think about the Duke. Hate him. Loathe him. I must play my part. Just as he must play his own!
“I still cannot believe it.” Her mother took a step back to better look at her in the mirror. As she did, a smile found her eyes. “A duke, Celestine. In all my life, I would have never…”
Celestine raised an eyebrow at her mother. “Be careful, Mother. I am starting to think that you are proud of me.”
“I am,” her mother said rightly. “I know that I give you a hard time. And I know that these last few years…” A shake of the head. “It does not matter. I do not know how you bewitched him as you did, but that you have done so means so much.”
Celestine’s smile was especially forced. Not because she wanted to fool her mother, but because she felt a touch of happiness at seeing her so proud.
Typically, this was followed by guilt, a reminder that this was all a lie. Celestine smothered the guilt the best that she could. She was doing this for the right reasons, and come one month, that would be proven.
All she had to do was get through this month.
“He’s here!” Isolde rushed into the room. “His Grace! He is…” She trailed off when she found Celestine. “Celestine!” she gasped. “You look…” Her mouth fell open.
Celestine looked flatly at her sister. “Oh, enough of that. You are acting as if you have never seen me dressed up before.”
Isolde giggled. “Not for a man, Celestine.”
“Where is she?” Marigold was next into the room. She too came to a sudden stop, and she wore a smirk when she found Celestine. “You tricked us all, Celestine,” she said. “How dare you.”
“I did not.”
“You did,” Marigold said as she folded her arms. “All this time, acting as if you wanted nothing to do with men. And here you are, engaged. And to a duke!”
“He is rather handsome,” Isolde said.
“He is scary,” Marigold added.
“Not as scary as Celestine.”
“Enough of that, both of you,” their mother dismissed. “His Grace awaits and we best not waste time gossiping.” She turned once more to Celestine. “Celestine, are you ready?”
There was no need to feel as nervous as Celestine did. This was not real. She did not need to impress the Duke. And there was no chance that she might mess everything up. Yet, as her sisters and mother looked at her expectantly, her stomach shifted and her limbs began to tingle.
Enough of that, Celestine!
“Yes, yes…” Despite herself, Celestine turned to the mirror and checked her reflection a final time. Her gown was perfect for a promenade, elegant and stylish without being ‘too much.’ After all, it was not as if she cared how impressed the Duke was with her.
“Come on then…” Her mother took her hand. “Let us greet your betrothed.”
Celestine’s stomach fluttered as she was led from the room.
They found the Duke waiting in the foyer. While the two sisters stayed at the top of the staircase to watch on, Celestine walked down the length of steps with her mother’s hand wrapped firmly around her own.
Her knees wobbled with each step taken, and it did not help that the Duke looked at her with a sense that her beauty was more than he could bear.
“Miss Celestine…” He marveled at her. “Was I to die right now, I would do so gladly knowing that you were the last thing I saw.”
She rolled her eyes at the comment, even if her cheeks flushed pink.
She reached the foyer and crossed toward him. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. The kiss was soft and wet, and it sent a ripple up her arm that she felt in her chest.
It is all an act, Celestine. That is all. Do not get carried away!
These were easy words to say but harder words to believe. The Duke kept a hold of her hand, his eyes sparkled as he looked at her, and for the first time, Celestine wondered if this month might not be nearly so hard as she had imagined.
It was all an act… it was not real… and it was important to remember this, despite what appearances might have suggested. Too often, Celestine recalled these words, just as she forced them to the fore of her mind.
However, as the day progressed, as she and the Duke committed fully to their lie, such words of resounding truth became harder and harder to believe.
“You do not have to stand so close,” Celestine said as she and the Duke walked together.
“Excuse me?” he asked as if he had not heard her.
She looked at him flatly. “There is no need to be so obvious.” Their arms were linked and she tried to pull hers free, only for him to refuse.
“Is that what I am being?” he asked her. “Too obvious?”
“What do you think?”
“I think that I am taking a walk with the woman who I love. And anyone who sees us will surely think the same.”
She rolled her eyes. “Likely, they will think that you are trying too hard. I know that is what I would think.”
He eyed her curiously. “What happened to you, Celestine? To make you so bitter and broken?”
“Who said something had to happen?” she fired back. “Maybe this is just how I am.”
“No…” He frowned down at her. “You were not always like this. Yes, I did my research on you. The way you act is a new thing, which leads me to believe that there was an incident that changed you. I cannot help but wonder what it was.”
He was right about that, as loathe as Celestine was to admit it. In fact, it annoyed her a little, that he saw through her so easily.
Not that Celestine would tell him any of this. The last thing that she wanted was the Duke knowing more about her than what was required. Better that he knew nothing at all, so when this month was over, they could go on with their lives as if they had never met.
“Just focus on yourself.” She looked ahead. “And do not waste my time with personal questions.”
“We are engaged,” he said. “Ought I not know more about you?”
“You know enough,” she said sharply. “And be glad you know that much.”
He chuckled at her comment and shook his head. Where her goal was to push him away, it was almost as if the more she lashed out, the more he wanted to get to know her. As if he enjoyed it!
It had been this way all morning.
From the moment that they arrived at St. James Park, the Duke had been the very picture of decorum and romantic harmony.
He had helped her from the carriage. He had remarked several times on her beauty.
And once they started their walk through the park, he clung to her as if his life depended on it.