“No,” he chuckled darkly. “Not the answer I want.”
He held her to the door for a moment longer. He kept one hand under her chin, but with her face turned away. He felt her tremble. He felt her breathing erupt. Just as he felt his own self-control slowly fading to a point where he had to stop, lest he lose himself entirely.
“Next time.” He released her and stepped back. “Think of my offer. Think of what it will give you. And most of all, think of what it will do for your sisters.” He took another step back and straightened. “You might hate me, but you love them, and that is why I know you will say yes.”
“I… I…” She forced herself to look at him, but the fire in her eyes was gone. She looked confused and unsure like she never had before.
“Not now,” he said. “Later.” He stepped toward her, she flinched, and he reached around to pop the door open. “It was good speaking to you, Miss Celestine. Always a pleasure.” With that, he walked through the doors and left Miss Celestine trembling behind him.
It was only once he was back on his horse that Edward reckoned with what had just happened. Had he not chosen Miss Celestine precisely because she was the one person who would be able to refuse him, as he would be able to refuse her? But what justhappened…maybe this isn’t nearly as good of an idea as I thought.
Chapter Three
“Have you seen Isolde?” Celestine’s mother asked her sharply. “Where has she gotten to?”
“Oh…” Celestine turned and looked across the garden in search. “I am not sure.”
“You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her,” her mother said in a huff. “And Marigold, for that matter.” Her mother put her hands on her hips. “I turn away from one second…”
“I am sure they are somewhere, Mother.”
“That does me little good now, Celestine. Lord Grundon was asking after Isolde, but I am certain he will wish to meet with Marigold too.” Her mother looked throughout the garden, her brow furrowing angrily. “Those girls….” A shake of the head. “Make yourself useful and find them, Celestine. Sometimes I wonder…” She started to mutter to herself as she powered through the garden.
Celestine watched her mother go and she did not hide the look of abject annoyance that crossed her face as she did. It was the same that she had been wearing all week, and for good reason.
It is only recently that my mother has started to annoy me so? Or am I only just now realizing it…
It had been this way all week, or so it felt like. Every chance that her mother was given, she seemed determined to snap at Celestine as if each malady that befell her was Celestine’s fault. She blamed her for all her woes, especially those that concerned Isolde and Marigold.
Today was the worst of it by far.
The Hargrave family were attending a garden party at Lord Westmere’s Estate. It was a rather lavish affair, attended by half the peerage it looked like, the type that had Celestine’s mother rushing to and fro as she attempted to put in a good word for her daughters so that they might find a husband worthy of their names.
As she did this, Celestine was expected to watch over her two younger sisters to ensure that they came into no trouble. Which she was doing… or trying to do. But both Isolde and Marigold were rebellious, they were not the type to be told to stay put and behave, and no sooner did Celestine turn her back were they gone.
Why does it always fall on me to watch over them?
She ought to not have minded so much. After all, was Celestine’s calling not to make sure that her sisters were not taken advantage of? That was all she wanted, and yet…
This past week, something changed in Celestine. Where she wanted nothing more than to do as only she was able to do, she slowly became sick and tired of always being treated like an imposition. Really, she was starting to understand the negative effects of being thought of as ‘mad.’ That being that nobody took her seriously.
“Is she gone?” Isolde appeared as if from nowhere, a wicked smirk on her lips. “I thought she would never leave.”
“There you are!” Celestine snatched her sister by the arm. “Where did you run off to?”
“Nowhere…” Isolde tried to pull her arm free, but Celestine refused to let go. “Just avoiding Mother. Celestine…” She pulled harder on her arm, which Celestine clung to. “Let me go.”
“Not until we find Marigold.” Celestine looked across the busy garden party, frustration mounting because her other sister was nowhere to be seen. “I told you both to stay put.”
“And why would we listen?” Isolde complained. “It is not as if we have to do everything you tell us.”
“It might be nice if you did for a change.”
“Let me go!” Isolde cried out a little too loudly. This saw a few lords and ladies nearby turn their heads; judgmental eyebrows were raised at Celestine.
“Will you keep your voice down,” Celestine hissed at Isolde. “People are staring.”
“Then let me… go!” She wrenched her arm free and held it to her body. “What is the matter with you, Celestine?”
