Oh.
Cecilia felt her heart plummet at the revelation, an unexpected wave of unease washing over her. “Really?” she managed to ask, though she could barely contain the tremor in her voice. “What’s she like?”
“Oh, I haven’t met her yet myself,” Evie replied, her excitement evident. “But Mother says she’s lovely and well-bred. Apparently, she’s coming to the estate tomorrow for the dinner party. It’ll be Alistair’s first time meeting her.”
Cecilia felt a tightening in her chest. She wondered why the thought of Alistair with someone else disturbed her so deeply. She masked her emotions with a forced smile. “That’s… wonderful news, Evie. I’m sure they’d make a perfect match as the lady was the Dowager’s choice.”
Evie continued, seemingly oblivious to Cecilia’s inner turmoil. “I really think this could be good for him. He needs someone to bring some warmth into his life, desperately.”
“Right, of course,” Cecilia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “He could use a little more warmth.”
Evie leaned in, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “And you know, I’m so grateful you’ve been there for him. You’ve really helped him open up. I can’t thank you enough for that.”
Cecilia nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. “I’m just doing what I can,” she said, forcing her tone to remain upbeat. She couldn’t shake the feeling enveloping her chest, and the thought of Alistair with this new woman unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
Evie’s eyes sparkled with gratitude as she carried on, her voice earnest. “Honestly, Cece, once again, I can’t thank you enough for yesterday. You saved his life.”
Cecilia chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Oh, come on, Evie. Again, that sounds a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No, I’m serious!” Evie insisted, leaning closer, her expression unwavering. “If you hadn’t found him when you did, who knows what could have happened? You brought him back to us.”
Cecilia nodded, though her heart felt heavy. She tried to brush it off with a smile, but the weight of all of Evie’s words lingered in the air. “I’m just glad he’s doing better now.”
Evie continued, her laughter bubbling over. “And tomorrow, he gets to meet his future wife! Can you imagine? If you hadn’t intervened, he wouldn’t be in good shape to impress her!”
At that, Cecilia felt a knot tighten further in her stomach.
Calm down, Cece.
So the man is getting married, why do you care?
She forced herself to focus on Evie, who was now animatedly discussing the upcoming dinner.
“Do you think she’ll be beautiful?” Evie asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I mean, Alistair deserves someone stunning, don’t you think? But it’s also about more than looks. She should be kind and clever, able to keep up with him. I wonder if she’ll have a sense of humor…”
Cecilia nodded absently, trying to engage with Evie’s enthusiasm. “I’m sure she’ll be lovely in her own way,” she replied, though her thoughts drifted about carelessly.
“I change my mind, she has to be someone who can make him laugh!” Evie continued, oblivious to Cecilia’s distraction. “That would be perfect! I just hope she’s not intimidated by him…”
Cecilia felt a pang of something she couldn’t quite identify as the words filtered in and out of her ears.
“Ladies, have you decided on the fabrics for your dresses?” the modiste inquired, her entrance a welcome distraction.
Evie nodded enthusiastically, launching into a conversation about colors and styles, but Cecilia remained lost in thought. As Evie chatted about the latest fashions, Cecilia couldn’t shake the image of Alistair with someone else, wondering what kind of woman could truly be perfect for him.
CHAPTER 14
“It’s so cold…”
Cecilia slipped out of her room, the chilly air wrapping around her like a thin veil as she padded down the dimly lit hallway. The old wooden floor creaked softly under her feet, each sound echoing in the stillness of the estate.
It was past midnight, and the winter night outside had frost clinging to the windows like delicate lace. She shivered slightly, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders, but the chill was not just from the air; it was the unease settling in her stomach that kept her restless.
As she walked, her mind drifted back to her conversation with Evie from the day before and the excitement in sharing the news that a new member would soon be joining their large family— the duke’s potential wife coming over soon.
The thought of another woman stepping into Alistair's life sent a pang of jealousy through Cecilia, one she couldn’t quite understand. She paused in the hallway, leaning against the cool wall, her heart racing as she considered the implications.
After taking a deep breath, she continued toward the library, her thoughts spiraling deeper. Was it mere jealousy, could it be having such a terrible man find a match before her annoyed her?
