Page 47 of A Lady's Propitious Match
CHAPTER 21
“So, what do you think about pink flowers?” her mother asked as Clara picked at her breakfast. “I always think they look perfect for weddings. And I have been thinking about where we should purchase your wedding gown…”
Clara gritted her teeth together as rage soared through her. How was all of this happening out of her control? Why was she not allowed a say for who she married?
Her plan with Christopher had spun out of control. They had worked really hard to get tongues wagging about their feelings for one another, whilst also trying their hardest not to ruin any reputation, but it had not worked.
Her father had agreed to a proposal for Lord Caldwell anyway, which was truly gutting.
“Clara, what do you think? You seem to be ignoring me.”
Clara knew that she was not giving her mother the right responses she wanted, but how on earth was she supposed to get excited about a wedding she did not even want?
“Sorry, Mother, I just…”
“What flowers would you like, Clara? I would like to have your input. I don’t want to have to make all the decisions for you. I am sure that Lord Caldwell would appreciate it if you made some of the choices. He is very excited about the wedding.”
Clara stared down at her untouched breakfast, her appetite drowned by the torrent of emotions raging within her. The mention of flowers and wedding gowns felt like a cruel reminder of the impending fate she seemed powerless to escape.
“Mother, you know it is not the easiest for me to get excited, because…”
But her mother did not want to give her the time and space to be honest, which Clara already knew was going to happen, so she was not sure why she bothered.
Lady Belmont’s face registered a mix of surprise and disapproval. “Clara, do not be foolish. Lord Caldwell is an excellentmatch. Your father and I have made this decision for the benefit of our family. You know that. I do not wish for you to keep being difficult.”
“But what about my happiness? What about love?” Clara retorted, her voice betraying the tumult of emotions within her.
Her mother sighed, frustration evident in her expression. “You are being unreasonable, Clara. Marriages are not built on love alone. They are alliances, unions that secure our standing in society. They always have been, and that is the way they always will be. This has already been decided, so I do not know why we are having this conversation. There is nothing to be gained from it. Your father has made this decision. All we can do is make the best of it.”
Clara rose from her seat, unable to continue this conversation with her mother. It was only breaking her heart even more. “I do not have an appetite. I am going to my bedchambers.”
But before Clara could go anywhere, the butler entered the room with the announcement that Lady Imogen Chambers had come to visit.
This was perfect for Clara, great news. She so desperately needed someone to talk to. Especially as Lady Abigail Ashford was holding her Spring Soiree this evening.
“Imogen, should we take a walk in the gardens?” Clara snapped rapidly, taking her friend outside before her mother could intervene. “Come on, let us get out of earshot.”
“Oh my! What is happening, Clara? I do not think I have ever seen you look so stressed.”
“It is my parents,” Clara finally responded once they were out of earshot. “I can not believe what they have done to me. They have ruined absolutely everything…”
Imogen furrowed her eye brows. “What do you mean?”
“My father has accepted a proposal to Lord Caldwell without my permission. Without my knowledge. I did not even know that it was going to happen.”
Imogen gasped in horror. “But your plan…”
“My plan has failed. Learning that there was something between Christopher and me has only made things worse becauseas you can see, my father did this just to keep me away from him.” Clara hung her head low, trying not to let tears fall. She was worried that if she started weeping, she might never stop. “I do not know what I can do.”
“You sound heart broken, Clara. Is that simply because you do not wish to be wed to Lord Caldwell, or is there something more to it?”
It was almost as if Imogen could see right through her. Because of that, Clara did not see any point in hiding her feelings any longer. “Imogen, I did not mean to fall in love with anyone. It was always the idea that Christopher and I would court to distract our parents and to turn them away from the people that they had their eyes on, but instead…”
“Instead your heart ended up on the line, and you are in pain. I understand that, dear Clara, I did see feelings brewing between you. I think everyone could see it.”
A single tear dripped down Clara’s cheek as she nodded. Imogen had warned her not to get hurt, but it had happened anyway. She had been a fool and profoundly fallen in love with Christopher. She could not deny it any longer.
“We have connected, Imogen. On a deep soul level. But there is nothing that I can do about it. My engagement to Lord Caldwell will be announced in the morning when the banns are placed, and there is nothing I can do about it. There is no way I can stop it, which is breaking my heart the most. Everything is out of my control.”
