Claire looked at herself in the mirror. Although she hardly slept a wink last night, she found that love did have a strange effect on people.
For one, her eyes were brighter than she had ever found them to be and her complexion seemed to radiate happiness like the sun itself.
Although she still wore black, it no longer cast a somber pall over her and she found herself actually looking forward to whatever life threw her way.
Today, they were to announce their courtship to their sisters and she was giddy with excitement, wondering how they would receive the news. Trixie had already expressed that she wanted His Grace for a brother-in-law and while Lady Suzanna had always been kind and gracious to them, she was aware that Claire held feelings for the Marquess a few months before.
Now that she thought about it, she found the war she had earlier waged on the Duke’s sister largely laughable and embarrassing. His Grace was far more superior to the Marquess, in her estimation, but that was very likely due to her tender affections for him.
She met Trixie on their way down to breakfast, her younger sister looking at her rather suspiciously.
“You seem to be in high spirits today,” the younger girl remarked, her eyes narrowed. “Please do not tell me that the Marquess professed his undying love for you yesterday.”
Claire pursed her lips. “You say that like it is a bad thing.”
“Of course it is a bad thing! I still do not think you are particularly suited for each other,” Trixie huffed in an exceedingly childish manner. “I still feel that His Grace would be a more suitable match for you and we have known him for far longer than that silly Marquess.”
“Oh, you are such achild!” Claire laughed and tapped her sister lightly on the nose. “What would you know about such things?”
“More thanyou, I suppose, since you are intent on marrying the wrong man,” Trixie groused. She looked at her older sister and Claire could feel the concern from her warm her heart. “You cannot honestly mean to marryhim, Claire. You must clearly know that he is after your dowry and nothing more.”
Claire looked at her younger sister in shock. “Why would you say that?”
And is it so strange that all of them say the same thing to me?Claire shook her head inwardly.Or was it truly so obvious to everyone and I was the blind one all along?
“Whenever he came to pay a call, he used to be all over Lady Suzanna,” Trixie pointed out softly. “He only had eyes for her. However, after father died, he quickly changed his tune and started paying more interest in you.” She looked at her sister with an odd sense of maturity beyond her years. “You are a wonderful person, Claire, and you deserve to be with someone who sees that and not your dowry.”
Claire felt a strange lump in her throat as she gathered her younger sister in her arms for a brief hug. Although Trixie seemed far too childish and unladylike most of the time, she did have the kindest soul and an honest heart. She would not mince words but she loved them all openly and fiercely, which was far more than could be said of others in Polite Society.
“Well, you can rest assured for today,” she told her younger sister gently. “I shall not be marrying the Marquess anytime soon.”
“You promise?” Trixie glared at her.
She laughed. “I promise. But we really must be heading down to breakfast and hopefully before we bawl our eyes out in the corridors!”
Trixie laughed, the sound so light and joyous that Claire found it lifting her spirits more. If her younger sister was so happy she was not marrying the Marquess, what would her reaction be when she and the Duke announced their courtship over breakfast?
She had a feeling that her sister would be unable to contain her joy and might very well bounce all over the room in her excitement!
Even Claire herself had not been able to contain her happiness and stayed awake half the night, afraid that she would wake up and find that it was all nothing more than a beautiful dream.
But it is real and today, we are going to announce our courtship to the two most important people in our lives!
Claire could not help the bounce in her steps as she and Trixie made their way to breakfast.
If only Father could see us now, I know he would be so happy for all of us…
* * *
Oliver could hardly control the excitement in his heart when he heard Claire and Trixie’s voices drift from the corridors, wafting into the dining room. As usual, the younger girl spoke in exuberant tones while his dear Claire was more subdued. However, there could be no mistaking the quiet happiness in her voice.
It gave him great joy and humbled him to no end that he was the cause of it. He made her happy.
His sister shot him a suspicious look but he only returned it with a smile of his own. They would find out soon enough.
When he finally saw her for the first time since last night, he felt his heart pound rapidly in his chest. She and Trixie had entered through the great double doors and with the light coming in from behind her, she seemed the very picture of an angel coming down to earth to bless the poor mortals with her presence.
He shook his head inwardly and laughed at himself. He could wax poetic all day about how lovely she was and it still would not be enough.
