“I will be fine, Mother,” she said. “In fact, I think a nice walk is exactly what I need.”
“I could not agree more.” Her mother took her hand. “Now, let us wait downstairs, yes? He ought to be here at any moment.”
It was as they arrived at the top of the staircase leading into the foyer that a footman burst into the foyer. His gaze swept the scene and landed on Celestine’s mother.
“My lady!” he cried as he rushed ahead. “News has just come from Her Grace. Your daughter, my lady!”
“Ariadne?” Her mother let go of Celestine’s hand and hurried toward the footman. “Well, what did she say? Speak!”
“She has gone into labor, my lady,” the footman said. “An hour ago. The child is expected to arrive today.”
Celestine gasped when she heard the news. Her older sister, Ariadne, already had an eight-year-old daughter, so this was not her first child, and thus not nearly as grand an announcement as it might have been. But that did not stop the news from sending the manor into chaos.
Celestine stood in the foyer as her mother rushed through the manor, calling on Isolde and Marigold as if the world was about to end. She hustled them to their rooms to change and then commanded them to meet in the foyer because they needed to be with their sister.
“What of Celestine?” Marigold asked. “Is she coming?”
“She has plans with His Grace,” her mother said. “She will have to meet with us later.”
“No!” Celestine cried. “I am coming.”
“You are not,” her mother said. “His Grace expects you to spend today with him and you will not break your plans.”
Celestine felt trapped as her thoughts swirled and her worlds collided. On the one hand, she wanted so desperately to be with her family, as they needed her. She was, at heart, the one who kept this family together, and she could not imagine missing the birth of her niece or nephew.
On the other hand, this would be one of the last days she might spend with Edward. Could she really cancel her plans, knowing that soon she would never see him again?
Maybe it is a good thing if I do…
Her feelings for Edward were as confused as they were wrong. Whatever she might have felt for him, Celestine reasoned that it did not matter. Their engagement was false, it would end shortly, so perhaps it was best to distance herself now, rather than later? Even if such thoughts hurt more than she liked to admit.
“What is this?” Edward’s voice cut through Celestine’s thoughts.
She turned to find him standing in the doorway; it was left open so the light from outside shone across his shoulders. When she saw him, her heart leapt through her throat, and while she tried to hide her smile, she did not do very well at it.
It was so strange to her that once she had thought so little of Edward. She had seen him as little more than a rake and a scoundrel, the type who was handsome but knew it, just as he knew how to use it. And that wasn’t to mention the other foul things people said about him.
Now, she saw him in ways she could not have believed were possible, just as she could not deny them. How tall and striking he was. How indomitable and powerful. His sharp features, his blue eyes that were kinder than they ought to have been, and those lips…
Her stomach stirred as she remembered how those lips had tasted and what they had done to her. And the more she tried to forget it, the more she could not stop thinking about it.
“Your Grace!” her mother swept towards him. “We are so sorry you had to see us like this.”
“Is something the matter?” He found Celestine staring at him, and worry took his face.
“It is my daughter, Your Grace, she is in labor. We are just now readying to go and see her.”
“In labor…” Edward’s brow creased with consideration. “Of course, you ought to be with her. All of you.” Those last words were for Celestine, and she winced just a little because she had wondered if he would demand that they spend the day together.
“You and Celestine need not worry,” her mother said. “You ought to enjoy the day.”
“Do not be silly,” he said. “In fact…” He bit into his lip and nodded once. “My timing could not be more serendipitous. My carriage sits outside, ready and waiting. I will take you there myself.”
“Oh, there is no need for that.”
“I insist.”
Celestine’s heart skipped a beat. Again, she was reminded of who Edward truly was. This engagement was fake. Their feelings for one another, just as much. But that mattered not, and despite their lies, it seemed as if he truly cared.
