Page 72 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“But you do, Gerald. That is what I am saying. Do not act this way or that way because you think you must. For me. For society. For… I do not even know why! You are my brother, and I can see how unhappy you are. And not just these past two weeks – even if they have been the worst of it. For years now, I have seen how sad you are, how miserable.” She squeezed his hands and smiled. “I know why now, I just wish that you would admit it to yourself.”

“And then what?” he asked sullenly, defeat creeping into him. “If I am not this man, your brother. What am I? What is there for me beyond this world?”

Her smile grew and she continued to squeeze his hands. “Isn’t that the beauty of it? That you get to decide for yourself. That you get to choose what it is that makes you happy, and when you do, fight for it because at the end of the day, that is all which matters.”

“What… what makes me happy….” He said the words as if he didn’t understand them, as if he was hearing them for the first time.A concept that has been alien to me for as long as I can remember.

“Whatever it is,” she pressed on him. “No matter what.” And then she hugged him. Arms wrapping about his neck and pulling him into a hug which seemed to push away the weight that was sitting on Gerald’s shoulders, sheltering him from that expectation, giving him strength which he had not even known that he needed.

More than that, it was permission given that he felt in his sister’s hug. She had forgiven him for what he had done, when she did not need to. She wanted only the best for him. After all he had done, all the lies he told, she still loved him. It was more than he deserved.

The question thus became, what was it that made Gerald happy? If he could have anything in this world, what would it be? One thought came to mind instantly. It surprised him, even if it should not have. It made him smile, his pulse rising, his sense of frustration and sadness and pity washing away as he considered what it meant.

Is it too late? Or is my sister right? If that is what will make me happy, perhaps fighting for it, despite the cost, is all which matters? For if I do not… it will be another life led that is not of my choosing, yet another lie I will be forced to swallow. And I am just about sick of all these lies.

He knew what he had to do. It was so clear now that he could not believe he had taken this long. Gerald just had to hope that he wasn’t too late.

ChapterTwenty-Five

“Is everything ready?” Violet hurried into the room, looking frazzled and beside herself with worry. “Please, tell me you that you nearly are.”

“A few more minutes,” Caroline said as she helped to adjust Aurelia’s dress, fiddling with the sash about the waist and ensuring it was tight and well cinched. “These things cannot be rushed.”

“Tell that to the people outside,” Violet said as she took a few long breaths. “I had no idea so many people would be coming!”

“Lord Mildenhall insisted,” Caroline said simply. “And seeing as he is paying for it…”

“Quite a bit, by the looks of things.” Violet added.

“I have not seen it yet,” Rosalind joined in. She was attending Aurelia’s face, touching up around her eyes to ensure that they popped with the green of the dress. “Is it that beautiful?”

“Heavenly,” Violet crooned. “Lord Mildenhall spared no expense.”

“He certainly is generous,” Caroline agreed. “I had no idea he would go through such lengths.”

“Can you blame him,” Violet added. “He wants this wedding like nothing else. His mother especially…” She curled her nose. “You would not believe that she had the nerve to ask me about my plans for children, how many I wish to have, and if I had already started trying. Not because she cared, but because she wishes to see if there is anything wrong with me.”

“Me too,” Caroline scoffed. “Clearly, she does not want to take any chances where grandchildren are concerned. But that is the point, isn’t it? Lord Mildenhall was not exactly subtle about it.”

“Is now the time for this conversation?” Rosalind interjected and looked at the two sisters. “We have a ceremony to prepare for.”

“Yes, sorry,” Violet grimaced. “I will just pop out and tell everyone –”

“There she is!” Aurelia’s mother was in the room next. “How much longer? Everyone is ready!”

“A few minutes, mother,” Caroline assured her, taking a step back to admire the dress on Aurelia. “Rosalind…”

“Almost done,” Rosalind agreed, also taking a step back to check her work.

“Good, good…”Aurelia’s mother looked upon Aurelia with a bedazzled expression that saw her eyes begin to well with tears. “Beautiful, absolutely beautiful, Aurelia. I cannot believe it – not that you look beautiful,” she then laughed. “That the day has finally come!”

“Beautiful,” Caroline agreed.

“Stunning,” Violet added.

“I can’t believe it,” Rosalind said with a sniff as she wiped at her eyes. “You look like a princess, Aurelia. Lord Mildenhall is a lucky man.”

To that, all four ladies nodded their heads in agreement.

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