My feet flew with newfound joy as I ignored the passing stares from the staff. When I swung around the corners, I nearly collided with a torso. I skidded to a stop just short of Lord Dugal. The man gave me an odd look at my rushed approach, but I paid little attention. Theodore was standing right beside him, and that’s all I needed.
“Good afternoon, Aurelia,” Lord Dugal greeted cheerfully. “Excited for tomorrow are we?” He gave me a wink, and I resisted the urge to cringe.
“Quite the contrary, actually,” I stated plainly. Both lords gave me displeased looks at my rude implication, but I carried on with little care. “Theodore, you can’t marry me.” I watched with pleasure as his face furrowed into an unattractive scowl.
“Of course, I can,” he stated arrogantly. “The arrangements have already been made. Your father approved my request of your hand whether you like it or not.” He crossed his arms abrasively. He didn’t seem to be in the mood for my cold feet.
I smiled devilishly at his choice of words. “That’s where your wrong, Theo.” I dug my eyes straight into Lord Dugal’s as I spoke my next words. “My father died before I was born. The permission you received was from my adoptive father, who according to court records, never legally adopted me.”
The acrimony that shadowed over Lord Dugal’s face could have killed a beast. His face looked both strangled and enraged as he wordlessly shut the doors to the room we stood in. I straightened, my confidence unwavering in the truth I now held.
“Miss Lockly,” Lord Dugal turned back toward Theo and me, “I’m not certain how you came across such information, but I can assure you it is entirely false.” He gave me a ruling smile, as if he expected me to believe such a blatant lie.
“Silas Lockly admitted it to me,” I stated boldly. “You aided in the death of my birth father, so you of all people should know I’m illegitimate.” I turned my attention to Theodore. “Why would you want to marry the daughter of a nameless woodcutter and an unfaithful wife?” My confidence held firm until his menacing smile seared a crack into it.
“Oh Aurelia,” Theodore chided me like a child, “I tried to tell you I was doing you a favor.” He laughed and my stomach nauseated.
“You knew...?” I asked in disbelief. “You knew of my past, but still wanted to marry me?”
Lord Dugal stepped beside his son, their twisted smiles identical. “Of course, he knew, dear.” He wrapped an arm around his boy’s shoulder, a sick gleam of pride in his eye. “It was his idea to marry you, not your father’s. Once our families unite, we’ll be one of the strongest in the kingdom. We just needed to invoke a little incentive out of Silas by reminding him of the things he doesn’t want shared.” He passed a wink to Theo, who gave him a proud grin. “Now, you can try to tell people about whose daughter you truly are, but in the grand scheme, it won’t matter. We have far more testimonies than you do, and you weren’t even born yet. So, let’s put the whole messy history behind us, and start fresh with the wedding tomorrow.”
He stepped forward and offered me his hand, which I eyed with disgust.
“You’re all repulsive.” I passed my scathing eyes between Theo and his father. “All of you... the Dugals, the Locklys, the Oberons, and every other noble out there who uses others for their own gain.” My teeth gritted together as Lord Dugal chuckled at my words.
“Oh, sweet, naïve Aurelia...” he lowered his hand as he walked past me toward the doors, “that’s the world of business. You’re either a rabbit or a bear.” He spoke his last words just before exiting the room. Theo followed, giving me a snide look of victory as he passed.
I stood with my fists clenched until my nails dug into my palms. It took a few calming breaths before I could convince myself not to punch a hole through the wall. Finally, I settled into a chair, still steaming from my ears. I scanned the room I had been left in, taking in the various decorations.
It was a showcase room, full of hunting trophies and animal skins. I looked across the room at the various pelts and mounted heads that garnished the walls. At the far end of the room sat a hunting bow, mounted above a stone fireplace.Did he store any other weapons in here?
Not wasting the opportunity, I rummaged through the various cabinets and shelves. I came across a long sword and a quiver full of sharpened arrows, but both were too large for me to wield. In the lowest drawer of a decorative shelf, I found a collection of sparkling hunting knives sitting out temptingly. Checking the door cautiously, I picked through the daggers until I found one that sat comfortably in my hand. I grabbed a leather sheath and holster strap, then quickly returned everything to the way I found it.
“I’ll wait in the carriage, Elias,” I muttered quietly, placing the dagger into the folds of my skirt, “for as long as it takes.”
chapter twenty-five
The elegant white gown completely overwhelmed my small frame. The neckline settled in a flattering position along my collar and the sleeves were a simple cap shape, but the skirt... Oh, the skirt.
The mountainous piles of frilly fabric added at least an extra two feet to my width. I stared at the bedroom door in deep concern, wondering how I would ever fit through it. Would I even fit in the carriage? The idea seemed appealing, but I’m certain they’ll find a way to shoehorn the excessive lace inside.
A small knock on the door alerted me that it was time leave. I stared at my reflection one final time before letting out a deflating sigh.This was it.This could very well be the final time I look into the eyes of Aurelia Lockly. In the next few hours, I would become Lady Dugal, the wife of the uprising, and most powerful lord in the kingdom. It sounded dreadful.
A second knock sounded, a little more aggressive this time, so I gathered my skirts and made my way to the door. As I made my way toward the carriage, my thoughts drifted to the note I had been cherishing so closely. Elias had a plan for today, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to aid him in it. The only loose clue I had received was the message to remain in the carriage, and that wasn’t much to go on. Therefore, I readied a small preparation of my own.
The small steel dagger lay strapped to my upper thigh beneath my blooming skirt. It was a petite blade, measuring only a mere five inches, but it was better protection than my charming wit. If Elias’s plan required any defensive maneuvers, at least I wouldn’t be a complete liability.
As I stepped out the front doors, I noticed that Theodore had already seated himself in the carriage. I rolled my eyes at his lack of chivalry.Would it have killed him to assist his soon-to-be wife into the carriage first?I anxiously compared the width of the carriage doors to my impeding skirt, not certain if I could heave the fabric through the door on my own. Fortunately, a posted footman caught my worried glance and quickly rushed to assist me into the cabin. I thanked him as loudly as I could, hoping that my betrothed would sense my irritation toward him. The message must have been received because he too rolled his eyes at my actions.
“Must you be so dramatic, dear?” he muttered without even turning his head.
The sudden use of “dear” took me aback. I scrunched my nose up in distaste at the word, but then decided it was useful ammo for the time being.
“Oh, darling,” I drew out the pet name as obnoxiously as I could, “I thought you wanted me to be a proper nobleman’s wife... Isn’t drama included in the fine print?” I batted my eyelashes at him, and he gave me a snide look. A small sense of satisfaction rolled through me at his irritation.
“Save the drama for your party gossip.” His irked face finally turned to mine. Annoyance was not an attractive look on him. Then again, nothing could make him attractive to me now. He was the son of a murderer, and an absolute prig.
“Very well then, shall I gossip about our love story? Oh wait… I suppose that part is still a tad incomplete.” I pressed a thoughtful finger to my chin, ignoring his discontent. “How about I speak with the court about my family? Oh drat... that’s no good, either. Your family, then? No… your father doesn’t do well withlivelycompany, now does he?”