The Baroness came to brunch with the Duchess that Tuesday in the Makisean estate. Soliel hid away in the library so as not to run into her again. She couldn’t shake the watching feeling she received whenever the Baron Philip Deveaux, his wife, or his son would come to visit. In recent weeks the Baroness would come alone and so she was not forced to entertain her son, for that she was grateful. The meal was short and after a few moments alone, the Duke and Duchess called Soliel to the drawing room.

“I have wonderful news, daughter.” Soliel walked on careful toes further into the room.

“What news?”

“The Baron and Baroness have made you an offer.” ‘Twas the Duke speaking and he studied her face as he talked.

“An offer?” Soliel had crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping they were asking her to tutor their youngest son, Louis.

“Of marriage!” The Duchess exclaimed excitedly.

“Marriage?” Soliel’s heart plummeted into her lungs. She was going to be sick.

“Yes, Lord Jacques Deveaux has expressed his interest.” Soliel sat down, she was feeling faint.

“Oh look upon her dear, she’s so excited she can’t speak.” The Duchess drastically misunderstood Soliel’s reaction.

“I am to meet with the Baron this Friday to sign the contracts.”

“Contracts?! You’ve already accepted?” Soliel found her voice.

“They made an offer I couldn’t refuse. Soul, they have agreed to half your dowry. Half! At that, Lord Deveaux will make a fine husband, the son of a Baron. I don’t think we could hope for better offers. We wouldn’t want to be so rude as to make them wait when none other stand, unless...”

“Unless?” Soliel asked, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

“Unless you have reason to believe someone else may soon call for your hand.” Soliel chewed on her bottom lip. Her mind drifted to Tyrian. They way he’d held her close when he’d caught her in the library, the way he always smelled like nature. She recalled his words when she’d asked him his consideration of her company. My confidant and closest friend. She felt her heart contract in her chest. His letter echoed in her mind. I have to say, my mind has not changed. Perhaps I am too obstinate. He’d written his answer in plain English for her to see, he couldn’t be any plainer.

“No…” She whispered softly. “There is no one else.” Her eyes hit the floor.

“Then Friday you shall be wed.” Duke Markisean said, picking up his pipe. The Duchess stepped away from him as he lit it. Soliel remembered to breathe.

“But Papa, Friday is too soon. Hardly time to plan a wedding.” Maybe she could stall for a few more months or weeks. Perhaps she could change his mind in that time.

“She’s right dear.” The Duchess came to her aid unknowingly. “I haven’t even called a florist.”

“You’ve never expressed interest in a wedding before Soliel.” Duke Mare Markisean was not an uneducated man. He had noticed his daughters reluctance to marry.

“Of course I have Papa... what girl wouldn’t want to remember such a momentous occasion.” Soliel spoke carefully trying to keep the panic out of her voice, she needed more time. She knew she was simply holding off the inevitable. Despite her most desperate attempts her marriage to Deveaux would come and still every ounce of her being could only scream at her not him, not now.

“I may be able to stall the paperwork awhile, if it’s for a proper wedding.” The Duke agreed.

“Thank you Papa.” She perked up just the slightest.

“Besides this will give you a chance to have a proper courting with your betrothed.” Soliel winced, she couldn’t stop herself from making a face at the word betrothed.

“How fortunate.” Soliel said. Devastation weighed heavy in her chest. “If you will excuse me, I have a wedding to plan.” She stood and curtsied to her father and mother, fighting the urge to sob. Once behind the closed doors of the drawing room and in the hall she began to tear. She ran through the halls of the estate and found herself rapidly breathing. Her head spun. Marriage to Lord Deveaux. She was beside herself. She mentally grasped for anything that would save her from such a fate. Nothing came to mind. She sat on the floor of the greenhouse sobbing. Her eyes landed on the baby’s breath bouquet Tyrian had brought her. She had left them on the table and someone must have produced a vase for them. Despite being out of water for an afternoon they were still beautiful. It was Nan who found her on the floor. The nanny didn’t ask what was wrong, instead she pulled the girl up and gave her a hug. When she let go she signed to Soliel that the Duchess would like her to know Lord Deveaux would be arriving tomorrow morning to spend the day with her. Soliel began to cry again. Nan stood silently holding the sobbing girl. They stood there for what felt like hours. When Soliel had run out of tears Nan walked her through the estate back to her chambers with the promise to bring her dinner. She spent the rest of the evening in her room.

Lord Deveaux arrived as he always did, late and overdressed. He handed Soliel a bouquet of sunflowers immediately and then turned to ignore her for the attention of her father. She was lucky he did so, for if not she would have had to hide the look of disgust on her face as she handed the flowers to Nan. She disliked the large intensity of the sunflower. When he did finally turn to her she feigned a smile.

“Lord Deveaux, how wonderful to see you again, and with such ....agreeable news upon us.”

“It is agreeable, isn’t it? Lady Soliel please, we are to be married soon Lord Deveaux lacks a certain familiarity. Please refer to me as Lord Jaques, that is until I am Duke of course.”

“Of course.” Soliel said carefully.

“Let us take a carriage ride around the gardens.”

“Forgive me, Lord Jaques, isn’t there just a bit of morning chill for such an event?” ‘Twas almost August but the mornings were bitter before the sun came around.

“Worry not, I brought us a riding blanket, I hope it’s not too bold as to assume we could share it.”

“Not at all… Let me change.” Soliel turned immediately to head back to her chambers. A chambermaid met her there and began dressing her for the crisp morning weather. She glanced down at her vanity and to the warm leather gloves that reside there. She smiled and slipped them on. They fit well and stopped just at her wrist. They really were a thoughtful gift.

Lord Deveaux ordered the carriage to take a scenic route through her family’s gardens. It was late in the summer season so all the flowers were in full bloom. The land was covered in beautiful tall trees sprouting colorful leaves and jumping life but as beautiful as it looked Soliel felt as dreary.

“I read about these grounds a bit you know?” Deveaux started and he didn’t pause to allow a response. “This part of the colonies was once occupied by savages who had a strange tradition.” Soliel tried not to sigh. “They would wait until a full moon and then —” Soliel stopped listening. She had little interest in learning about the native people to this land from someone as self centered and bigotted as her betrothed. She considered throwing herself from the carriage once or twice and wondered if the fall would snap her neck. If not, would the pain she endured from lying on the ground injured truly be worse than listening to Lord Jaques continue to talk? The day was long as the conversation turned from savages to Deveaux’s favorite topic, himself. “And when I’m Duke we’ll have a proper heir. Even a daughter will be married off promptly and not so inefficiently at an embarrassing age. I swear I don’t know what your father was thinking. Of course I’d prefer to have a few children to sire, you will need something to keep you busy all day. Don’t worry the men of my family have had no problems there.” Soliel bit back a scream.

“Forgive me, Lord Jaques, I do believe I’m feeling rather faint. Perhaps it was the excitement of the day and planning a wedding but I really do wish to retire.” She interrupted.

“Of course my dear,” she winced at the familiarity of his speech “you needn’t worry that pretty little head of yours much about wedding preparations. I’ve most of it planned already. I even found you a dress. I’ll have it sent tomorrow for a fitting. ‘Tis a family tradition to wear it, you needn’t worry though you shan’t be wearing it long.” Soliel nodded her head dizzily. She was trying not to vomit. He continued rambling something about having their sheets tested after the wedding as proof of their consummation and Soliel lost it. She curtsied to Lord Deveaux and disappeared quickly down the halls of her estate.

By the time she returned to her chambers dinner was being served. She opted to be excused from the event under the same excuse that she felt ill. Back in her room she threw herself onto her duvet and began to sob heavily. There’s no escape. She turned to look upon her ceiling. A dress! How absurd for a groom to choose his bride’s gown! The gull. She’d never make another choice all her life.

A soft knock at her door had Soliel’s attention. She didn’t want to speak with anyone and so she ignored it. Assuming the girl had fallen asleep Nan slid a card under the door and the faint sound of the paper whisking across the hard wood had her out of bed. The note was sealed with a wax stamp. She flipped it open and her eyes skimmed the page.

Soul,

As you know the Countess is a severely flamboyant woman and would like to throw a dinner party- impromptu. It shall be held at our estate in our green room this Wednesday. I’d be forever grateful if you were to accompany me — if only to share in my suffering. I believe it was you who said you preferred to dance with someone who loathes it almost as much as you do.

~Tyrian

She must have read and reread the words on the card a thousand times in an instant. She rang the bell for her chambermaid and sat down to write a quick reply. Wednesday was tomorrow.