Page 21 of The Duke's Concealed Vow
Julian frowned.
“Why would Father make such a decision on your behalf?” he asked.
Serena shrugged, throwing up her hands in exasperation shehad been holding in since her father announced her betrothal to the Duke.
“I do not know,” she said. “He would tell me nothing of his decision or his reasons for it, no matter how much I pleaded with him.”
Julian sighed, shaking his head.
“I wonder what could make him decide on such a drastic move,” he said. “He never said anything to you about considering an arranged marriage?”
Serena shook her head but stopped mid motion.
“No,” she said slowly. “But he was acting rather strange in the days leading up to my debut ball. And the morning of the party, he was distant, almost simultaneously disinterested and frightened. I wanted to mention it to Aunt Imogen, but she said he was probably just worried about something regarding work.”
Julian listened intently, his brow furrowing.
“I recall you looking concerned after speaking with him,” he said, chewing on his lip. “And now, I regret not doing something to help you figure out what he was thinking. Perhaps, if I had, this would not be happening to you right now.”
Serena embraced her brother, shaking her head fiercely.
“No, Brother,” she said. “You cannot blame yourself. Neither of us could have ever guessed that this what was plaguing Father. None of the blame is yours in this.”
Julian snorted, but his expression was humorless.
“I could have tried to talk him out of making this mistake,” he said. “Even if he did not tell me why he was doing it, I could have bought you some time to find a husband of your own.”
Serena gave her brother a small smile. It was good to have Julian on her side about the whole arrangement. But she could not allow him to feel guilty about the situation.
To Serena’s disappointment, their precious time together was interrupted by a knock on the door. Julian went to answer itto find the butler standing there.
“Lady Imogen requests your presence at dinner this evening,” he said. “She had arranged for the Duke of Dalenwood and the Dowager Duchess of Dalenwood to join us in celebration of your upcoming wedding and they have just sent a note of acceptance. Lady Olivia and her family will be in attendance, as well.”
Serena felt the floor tilt beneath her feet. Not only was Imogen not speaking to her father about the ludicrously rapid betrothal and pending wedding, but she was also proceeding as though it were an event that Serena wanted. She closed her eyes, leaning against Julian, who put his arm protectively around her waist.
“Thank you, Nathaniel,” he said.
The butler bowed, giving Serena a sympathetic look before vanishing back down the hallway. She was happy to hear that she would get to see her dear friend. But under the circumstances, she would be better off locking herself in her room and never coming out.
“Oh, Julian,” she said, turning and burying her face in her brother’s shoulder once more. “I cannot do this. Surely, Father cannot make me do this.”
Julian held her close, stroking her hair.
“I am so sorry, Sister,” he said. “I would do anything to change this fate for you.”
Serena looked at her brother. She knew he would lay down his life if it would spare her a moment of pain. But she also knew that there was never anything he could have done to change their father’s mind.
“Thank you, Brother,” she said, embracing him once more. “That you would be so eager to help me is solace enough. Some good will come of this. It must.”
But it was clear that Julian did not believe her suddenoptimism, any more than she did. Still, there was nothing she could do. Her wedding would take place the following day. And nothing would stop or change the unhappy future that faced her beyond the ceremony.
***
The first thing Serena noticed when she reached the dining room that evening was that the Duke was not present. The dowager duchess, however, was. And as her father formally introduced the two women, she noticed that the dowager looked through her, rather than at her, and that her polite smile did not reach her eyes.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Serena said in as pleasant a voice as she could muster. It was not the dowager’s fault that she had been dragged into such a position. And she did not think it prudent to upset the woman who would be her future mother-in-law.
“Likewise,” the dowager said cooly, causing Serena to shiver. It was clear immediately from whence the duke got his coldness and detachment. And even when Olivia rose from her seat to embrace Serena, she did not feel welcomed, even in her own family’s dining room.
