“Another lie?”
“A truth,” she assured him. “I tried to coax it out of her yesterday, but she refused to say anything.” She bit into her lip as she considered. “I dare say we might find out today. But she was rather worried that you would not…”
“Not what?”
“That you would not like him.” She then laughed. “Which, to be fair, is indicative of half theton.”
Edward swallowed the rest of his wine and turned to find Millicent once more. His expression was hard, and she saw his eyes find not just his niece but work over each lord in her vicinity as if to assess who the threat might be.
Celestine sighed. Not with frustration, but with concern. As much as Edward wanted a young lord to court his niece, she knew too that none would be deemed good enough. He was overly protective, not to mention distrusting.
Thus, Celestine concluded that her task today would be to defend Millicent, to help calm Edward, and to try and see him towards a middle ground so that he would not scare off whoever it was that Millicent was so eager to speak with.
“Who is he…” Edward growled as he watched his niece. “Why is he hiding?”
“From you, perhaps,” she joked.
“As he should be,” Edward said.
Despite Edward’s surly attitude, Celestine could not help but smile. She knew him so well by now, so she saw through the darkness and the raging storm, able to find the light at its end that told her all she needed to know about the man who she now called her husband.
What is more, I like what I see. Just as I like the man who my husband is when he allows it.
Their marriage was going even better than Celestine had dreamed. While she had known that the physical nature of the relationship would help bind them together, she had not countered on their natural sense of companionship and compatibility outside of that.
It was all so easy, she had come to realize across the last week. Spending time with Edward. Helping to guide Millicent into adulthood. Being a part of a family, is what it was, one that she did not feel a stranger in. Better still, it was one they welcomed her too, encouraged, and wanted her to be the center of.
Many times in her life, Celestine had thought about married life and what it might be like. She had always romanticized it, unable to consider the bad because in her mind what could be better than marrying the man you loved? And in all those hours spent daydreaming, hoping and wishing, not once had she considered that it would be anything like what she had now.
This was better. This was real. And this had the potential to grow into so much more… she wanted it to grow into more.
As she looked at her husband, as she thought back to the past week, Celestine no longer saw the rakish lord who had bullied her into a false engagement. And she stopped seeing the man who she did not know if she could trust. Rather, she saw a man who she was growing attached to, starting to care for, and even…no, Celestine, do not dare think such a thing yet.
Nonetheless, her heart soared, she smiled, and she stepped into Edward and took his arm because she liked having him so close.
“What is he…” Edward’s jaw clenched. “No. She cannot be…”
“What?” Celestine followed Edward’s line of sight and her stomach dropped at what she saw. “Oh no. Edward, remember what I said. Do not – Edward!”
Edward wrenched his arm free and stormed across the garden, heading straight for Millicent. Celestine, with no choice, and knowing that she was needed, hurried after him.
“Edward,” she tried as she caught him. “Please, people are watching.”
“I do not care.”
Indeed, as he stormed across the garden, those they passed turned to see what was causing such alarm. But Edward did not seem to care, his thoughts set squarely on Millicent and who she was speaking with.
This will not end well…
“Millicent” Edward spoke up as he approached his niece. His voice was too loud, and it had those close-by already watching. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
Millicent heard her name, turned from who she was speaking with, and her face dropped when she saw Edward coming for her. Then, her cheeks colored with embarrassment, and she looked past him to Celestine for help.
Of course, there was nothing that Celestine could do. At most, she might be able to pull Edward away before he embarrassed his niece further.
“Ah, Your Grace.” Lord Grundon was who had captured Millicent’s attention. The two stood alone, speaking closely, looking as if they were rather enjoying one another’s company, in fact. “It is so good to see you.”
“Millicent.” Edward stopped next to his niece. “I need to speak with you.”
