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 followingday 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!
