“I never asked you,” her mother said at breakfast that morning. “Where did you and the Duke go yesterday?”
“To his study. I know that it was unwise to be there unchaperoned, but I decided that the damage is already done. Besides, the only people that could have seen were our families, and you would not have said a word.”
“Be that as it may,” Lord Hurton countered, “you cannot behave like that. This has already been detrimental to our family, and we cannot have it worsen.”
“Of course not. I only wished to speak with him about what he thinks the marriage will be like.”
“Is that to say you are no longer going to refuse as much as you can?” her mother asked.
“It is not as though I have a choice, Mama. I must think of you both, as well as Rose and Sophie, and His Grace’s sister Philippa. When all is said and done, we did what we did, and there is no changing it. I must accept the consequences, and when said consequences are marrying a wealthy suitor with the best possible title, I can hardly refuse.”
She remembered what she had thought about marrying a duke, and shuddered.
“Well, I for one am proud of you,” her father said kindly. “At last, you are doing what is expected of you, and though you do not have much choice it is noble of you to think of your cousins before yourself.”
Her father’s approval meant more to her than she ever expected it to.
The Duke arrived that afternoon. He was smiling, and Cassandra wondered what he could possibly have felt so happy about. Her mother, on the other hand, could not stop smiling and she knew precisely why. All that she saw was a handsome gentleman that had gotten her daughter to agree to marriage, and meant everything.
“We are to go to the reading of the banns,” he explained. “It is best that we are all in attendance, so that we may show thetonthat we are united and in agreement.”
“Yes, of course,” her mother agreed. “Will your family also be in attendance?”
He seemed to shift at that. Cassandra wondered if she was the only one that noticed, or if her parents also saw but did not want to mention it.
“My sister shall be there.”
“I see. So your grandmother is still not pleased with all of this?”
“She is a traditional lady. She has always wanted to be the one to decide my bride for me, and to not have done so has been quite the blow, but she will understand with time.”
“And what of your sister?” Cassandra asked. “I do not want her to be hurt by it all.”
“She was thrilled at first, but knowing that she must still find her own suitor has dampened her spirits. She will be most fond of you, in any case, for you have the same feelings about marriage.”
He did not specify what those feelings were. He did not have to.
Regardless, everyone there seemed quite content about it all. Everyone, that was, with the exception of Cassandra. She felt like she was missing something, for everyone around her had seemingly accepted the situation without question, aside from the Dowager Duchess. It was all most bizarre to her, to say the least, but they were all pleased about it.
She turned to her parents, hoping that with how happy they were they would not question her too deeply if she wished to be alone with him once again. For all they knew, she was utterly besotted with him, and if that was what it took for them to leave her be, then she would play the part.
“Mama, Papa, might I have a moment alone with His Grace?”
The exchanged looks, for though they had not been too upset with them speaking alone before, that did not mean they wished to encourage impropriety.
“I can have a maid,” she added. “I only wish to speak with him about something, and I would prefer for it to be between the two of us.”
They accepted that with unease, and a maid was sent for. Once they were alone, she hardened.
“We may speak freely now,” she explained. “What is the truth in all of this?”
“I do not know what you mean. I am not the sort of gentleman to lie, and I would especially refrain from doing so when you and I are to be married.”
“Not if you were hoping to spare my feelings, or at least have everything be as easy as possible. I heard your grandmother, Your Grace. She was furious, and if she is not going to attend this afternoon in spite of the fact that it will serve our reputations well, she is clearly not going to change her mind. I know that you are doing what you think is best, but I would prefer honesty.”
He was quiet for a moment, and then he cleared his throat.
“You are astute,” he chuckled. ‘Yes, very well, I have been trying to say what is best, but if it is honesty that you want, then I can offer you that. My grandmother disappeared sometime this morning, and I do not know where she is. I do not know for certain that she will be absent today, but it is my assumption. It is possible that she has returned home, and my sister has spoken to her, but I do not know for certain and I would prefer for you not to expect more than she will give.”
