Weddings of the Century: A Pair of Wedding Novellas(26)
His courtship had culminated this morning, in the few minutes when the two of them had cycled ahead of the rest of their party. After declaring his love, he had asked her to marry him. Dizzy with delight, she had accepted instantly.
As Sunny stepped into the cool marble vestibule of The Tides, she tried to calm her expression, for she knew that she was beaming like a fool. It was going to be hard to keep her lovely secret, but she must until the next day, when Paul would ask her mother’s permission. Her mother would not be enthralled by the match, but Sunny was sure she would come around. Paul came from a fine family and he had a distinguished career in front of him.
She handed the butler her hat, saying gaily, “It’s a beautiful day, Graves.”
“Indeed it is, Miss Sarah.” Taking the hat, he added, “Your mother has asked that you see her as soon as you return home. I believe that she is in her private salon.”
Such summons were not uncommon, so Sunny went upstairs with no premonition of disaster. She knocked on her mother’s door and was invited in.
When she entered, Augusta looked up from her desk with triumph in her eyes. “I have splendid news, Sarah! I’ll admit I was tempted by some of the offers I received for your hand, but it was right to wait.” After a portentous pause, she said, “You, my dear, are going to become the Duchess of Thornborough.”
The shock was so stunning that at first Sunny could only say stupidly, “What on earth do you mean?”
“You’re going to marry Thornborough, of course,” her mother said briskly. “For the last several days cables have been flying back and forth between Newport and England. The essentials have been settled, and Thornborough is on his way to Newport to make you a formal offer.”
“But I thought the Duke of Thornborough was going to marry Mrs. Russell.”
“That was Gavin, the eighth duke. Unfortunately he was killed in a train wreck several weeks ago, two days before he was to marry May.” Augusta smiled maliciously. “I would wager that May tried her luck with his successor, but clearly the ninth duke has better taste than his brother.”
Feeling ice-cold, Sunny sank into a chair. “How can I marry a man whom I’ve never even met?” she said weakly.
“Katie Westron said that you did meet him. In fact, you spent a rather indecent amount of time strolling through the Swindon gardens together,” her mother said. “He was Lord Justin Aubrey then, younger brother to the duke who just died.”
The fete at Swindon was when Sunny had met Paul. Beside that, other events of the day had paled. Dazedly she tried to remember more. The gardens had been superb, and she vaguely recalled being escorted through them by someone. Had that been Lord Justin? She supposed so, though she could remember nothing about him except that he was dark, and quiet, and...unmemorable.
But it didn’t matter what he was like, because she wasn’t going to marry him. Steeling herself for battle, Sunny said, “I can’t marry Thornborough because I’m betrothed to Paul Curzon.”
There was an instant of ominous silence before her mother exploded. “Nonsense! I considered putting a stop to that earlier, but I thought it was a harmless flirtation. I couldn’t believe you would be so foolish as to entertain thoughts of marrying such a man.” Her eyes narrowed. “I trust you’ve had the sense not to tell anyone about this so-called engagement?”
Sunny shook her head. “Paul only asked me this morning.”
“I shall send him a note saying he is never to call on you, or speak to you, again. That will put an end to this idiocy.” Augusta drummed her fingers on the elaborate desk as she thought. “Thornborough will be here in nine days. I shall give a ball in his honor a week later, and we can announce the betrothal then. The wedding should take place in October, I think. It will take that long to make suitable arrangements.”
Knowing that she faced the fight of her life, Sunny wiped her damp palms on her skirt as she struggled for calm. “You must cable the duke and stop him from coming, Mother. Paul Curzon and I love each other, and I am going to marry him.”
It was the first time she had ever defied her mother, and Augusta’s jaw dropped in shock. Recovering quickly, she said in a low, furious voice, “You are a Vangelder, my girl, and I’ve devoted my life to training you to be worthy of the highest station. I will never permit you to throw yourself away on a worthless, fortune-hunting younger son!”
“Paul is no fortune hunter! He said that if you refused permission, we could live on his income,” Sunny said hotly. “And he isn’t worthless! He’s a British aristocrat, exactly what you wanted for me, and he has a great future in British politics. He was recently made a junior minister, and he says that with me by his side he’ll soon be in the Cabinet.”
“Your money would certainly help his career,” Augusta said grimly, “but he’ll have to find himself another heiress, because I will never give my consent.”
“I don’t need your consent!” Sunny said fiercely. “I’m of legal age and can marry whomever I wish. And I will!”
“How dare you speak to your mother this way!” Augusta grabbed Sunny’s elbow, then marched her down the hall to her bedroom and shoved her inside. “If you think a humble life is so splendid, you can stay locked in here and live on bread and water until you change your mind!”