It will be scary but you my sweet girl are brave and strong. I know this is a lot to process but again you can do this. I know you can!
Be safe! Fall in love! Never forget that I love you! If I thought this was the wrong thing to do, then I would have hidden you away until you married for love or not at all. I believe this is the best thing for you to be safe and secure.
Find all this and more my sweet Corabell. You deserve it for being born into a life you didn’t choose.
With all my love,
Your Mother, Duchess Illiana
That is not what I expected when I opened the letter. I thought it was a goodbye letter and that was partly right. This news could be good or bad. I look up when Thomas enters the room and I hand him the rest of the papers that were in the envelope.
He stares at me for a moment and I hand him the letter too. He might as well read it, so he knows what I do. He scans the letter a few times before sighing and handing it back.
“Does this mean I have to start calling you Duchess or Lady Corabell?” He says and I bust out laughing. Leave it to Thomas to be able to lighten the mood.
“No, Bell is fine. I trust you Thomas, read the contract and make the arrangements as you see fit. I honestly don’t know what to do right now so I’m leaving it in your hands.” He nodded and started to break the seal on the contract.
“Not here! Go! I don’t want to be tempted to see it. I have enough to think about, that’s why I think she wanted someone else to take the reins. I’m already so stressed!” I tell him.
“All right! I’ll see you tomorrow sometime. I’ll let you know what the best thing is to do then. Good night, Bell!” He yelled as he walked out the door. That’s when I noticed that it was night outside.
How long did I sit at the table? My goodness I need to get the girls and get them to bed. I hurry out the door and to the neighbors. The girls are just finishing eating when I walk in. They smile at me and my heart melts. I am doing this for these two wonderfully vibrant, loud, carefree girls.
“Thank you, Miss June. We sure will miss you when we are gone.” I tell the older lady as I hug her goodbye.
“You will write to me, won’t you?” She asks as I let go.
“Yes, of course so much so you’ll get tired of hearing from me.” I tease as we turn to leave.
“Goodbye my sweet girls. I will miss you all so much.” We wave and head home. It’s late and I think I could sleep for days at this point.
Chapter 6
Corabell
Two weeks! That is how long we were traveling. I swear I will never travel this far again with two children. The first couple days weren’t so bad because they were so excited. Then they started to get restless.
Thomas assured me that he took care of everything. At times I want to yell at him to let me read the contract that he keeps on him. He slipped it into his pocket on the inside of his jacket so I wouldn’t grab it. He tells me that everything will be clear once we arrive at our destination but at this point, I just want to read the stupid thing.
By the time we arrive at a sprawling mansion I am ready to strangle both girls and Thomas. Seeing the mansion both girls stopped their bickering and stared at it in awe.
I climbed out of the carriage and stretched. I knew that no matter what Thomas chose that it would be grand. I have had time to process that I am not just a common girl but a Duchess. The twins still do not know and I will keep it that way for as long as I can.
“Thomas, really, you’re just as bad as they are. Stop it!” I turn just in time to see him chasing Evelyn around the carriage.
“Sorry, mother!” He yells back at me and I can only roll my eyes.
Most stops along the way people assumed he was my husband with the way we bickered about everything. He wasn’t afraid to argue with me and I wasn’t afraid to argue with him.
It keeps things interesting to say the least. He also loved to tease the girls. At one point we had stopped to water the horses and he chased them around, carrying a frog. They screamed bloody murder at that.
“Thomas put her down! Are we going in or just standing here?” I asked when I saw him toss Evelyn into the air. That man is going to drive me just as crazy as the girls.
“Right this way, Duchess!” He teased as we walked up the steps. He didn’t even knock just pushed the door open. We followed him in and gasped at the opulence of the place.
“I’ll go tell them you are here. Wait, in this room. Don’t touch anything!” He says to the girls as he walks away. I watch as their eyes wander around the room, we are standing in.
They have never seen wealth like this. It is going to be a shock to them that this should have been what our lives looked like. Then again if mother never met father then we may not be here today as it is. Fate has a way of making things go the way it wants.
Thomas returns shortly with another man. They are talking extremely fast to each other and don’t notice the girls as they charge at Thomas. The next thing I know Thomas is on his back laughing as the girls jump up and take off running.
“I am so sorry, Thomas!” I say trying not to laugh. It doesn’t work!
“Ha ha, very funny, Bell.” I giggle again and try to talk.
“You deserved it for all the ways you tortured them on the way here. Hello, I am Corabell!” I say as I hold out my hand.
He doesn’t take. He smiles and bows deeply. Well I guess he knows then. I think it will take time getting use to the formality of all this.
“I am Clayton! It’s nice to meet you, Duchess. I think Thomas can handle tracking down the girls, I’ll take you up to your room so you can relax. I bet you could use time alone after a trip with that bunch.” He says with a big smile on his face. I nod and smile back.
We go up the grand stair case and down a ton of halls, that I know I will get lost in, and then finally stop at a room with double doors. He pushes them open to reveal a parlor. There are doors all around and big glass windows that let in so much light.
“The door on the right is the bedroom, the door in the middle is a closet, and the last is a bathroom. It has a tub already set up with hot water for you. I hope you can relax some. Thomas will be up later to talk with you. After he wrangles the girls that is.” I smile and nod as he leaves.
I look around and am amazed at the beauty of the room. It’s all done in soft blues and greens. I go to the closet and notice all my things are here, all that was sent a head. I smile and go to the bedroom.
I pause in the doorway and stare at the massive bed in the room. It looks so comfortable that I must drag myself away so I can go clean up first.
The bathroom is warm and muggy. I slowly take my clothes off then climb into the tub. It is so nice to soak and relax. I don’t spend too much time in the water. I quickly clean and get out. If I stay too much longer, I’ll fall asleep.
I dry and dress in record time. I braid my damp hair and fall into the bed. I need a nap! Until Thomas arrives to talk that’s what I do, sleep.
I don’t know how long I was sleep, I’m awoken by knocking on my door. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. I then get up and answer it. Thomas is standing there smiling so I wave him in.
“Have a nice nap?” He asks me. I nod and sit on one of the many settees in the parlor.
“Yes! It was nice to sleep in a bed and not a moving carriage.” I say.
“Good, we have a lot to discuss. First off you will not be married tomorrow as you thought. It will be soon I promise. There’s just a few…hiccups that need ironed out first. So, until then you have free rein of the house.” I nod a little confused but then again it gives me time to prepare.
“Thank you! I think I will need a seamstress to help me take in the wedding dress. I am a lot smaller than my mother was. Plus, I think I need a few dresses made. Mother left me enough money that I don’t need this marriage, but I want it.” He already knows this and said he totally agreed with me.
It may be a marriage of convenience, but I
plan to make the most of it. I am an heiress, have been since mother passed away. I just didn’t know it, neither did my father. My mother left me a hefty sum of money and land here in the Norther Kingdom. When her parents passed a few years back that was added to the inheritance I already had but didn’t know about. It’s all been sitting waiting on me to find it.
My grandparents’ house and land are mine and have been taken care of by my mothers’ younger brother, my uncle. He wrote to Thomas and told him I can have it all if I want it, just give him time to find another place to live.
I had Thomas write back that no I didn’t want the house as of right now and that he is welcome to stay if he pleases. I won’t need it once I am married any way. He was grateful! I have stayed connected along the way and told him I would continue to stay connected. It’s nice to have family.
“Yes, a seamstress is a good idea! I think you will need a ballgown as well. His…just there will be a ball in a month where you will meet your intended. You won’t meet him until then. I am sorry for that. I will take care of everything. The girls start school tomorrow and you have enough going on.” He tells me. It’s a relief to have him as a friend.
“Thank you, Thomas. For everything, I don’t think I would be this calm without you. You are a great friend.” I tell him as he gets up to leave.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s nice to have friends. You needed one badly.” He says as I throw the little pillow at him.
“I’ll leave you to your evening. Dinner will be sent up for you. Good night, Bell.” He says with a wave. I stare after him and then collapse back onto the settee. It has been a long month and I really could use some time to myself.
With finding out my father sold me to the highest bidder, to my mother being married off to a man she hated, all the way up to my mother being a duchess thus giving me the title. It’s all so much!
I change into a night gown and climb into bed. If I get up to eat that will be a miracle.
Chapter 7
Marshall
I stare out the window as the carriage pulls in. I should be working but I can’t think straight at this point. It’s all so confusing. I turn away as the door on the carriage opens.
No point in watching the Duchess of the Northern Kingdom when I won’t be marrying her. I have my heart set on Corabell and that’s the way I’ll keep it. I have planned to throw a ball in a month to meet both women. Might as well make it a formal affair.
So, I have a tailor coming to fit me a new suit for the ball and I don’t have time to sit around. There is some much to do that I feel overwhelmed and that never happens.
For the rest of the day I go over plans for the ball and the wedding. I do still plan to marry. It just might take longer than I had planned.
Clayton enters after awhile and tells me that both women have arrived and that they are settled in nicely. I sigh and turn away. The look on his face says I am missing something, but I can’t figure out what it is.
It’s going to be an exceedingly long month and I know it. I just hope that I can stay away from both women until the ball, where I will make my decision.
I nod at him and tell him to not let them in this wing of the palace. I don’t want to run into either one of them. He says something under his breath but turns to leave before I can ask what it was. That man knows more than he is letting on!
As it would seem the month goes by faster than I thought. Then again when you throw yourself into your work that tends to happen. I have watched the twin girls run around outside with Thomas and felt jealous. I want that to be me!
It’s about time for me to go mingle with my guests. I have put it off for as long as I possibly can. It’s time and I know it.
In the hall I run into my mother and can’t help but smile at her. She is just as tight lipped as Clayton and Thomas about the women. She’s met them but wont talk to me about it at all.
I take her hand and place it in the crook of my arm and escort her down to the ball room. Clayton is standing outside the door and I nod to him.
“I shall fetch the women now. Take your seat, Sire. I shall return momentarily.” He dashes up the stairs and out of site.
My mother takes that as her cue to have the doors pushed open. Every person in the place turns and bows as we enter. No need for introductions they all know me by now. In one form or another.
Several young women stare at me as I pass in the hopes that I will still choose them. It takes everything I have to keep the beast under control. I won’t be able to stay exceedingly long here but I need to make an announcement.
Moments later Clayton enters, says something to a guard and then leaves again. The doors open wide and my eyes land on the most stunning woman I have ever seen.
She has long brown hair that curls perfectly, an hour glass frame, soft features, and the most beautiful sky-blue eyes. I know I’m staring but who wouldn’t. I can’t help but smile. Then I feel as if I got punched when the guard announces who she is.
“The Duchess of the Northern Kingdom, Corabell James De’pue!” I do a double take at the name and then turn to my mother who is smiling so big.
“You knew this whole time that it was one woman and not two!” I say through clenched teeth.
“Yes, my dear I did. I’m sorry but we thought it best.” She looks out over the crowd toward Clayton and winks. So, he knew all along as well.
All this time I could have been married to the woman and they kept it a secret. I turn to Corabell one more time and watch her glide towards me in her ruby red dress that hugs her curves perfectly. It has no sleeves and is a little less modest than most, but it is gorgeous on her.
She smiles at me and then curtsies. It takes all my self-control not to toss her over my shoulder and take off with her. I bow and then take her hand. One dance won’t hurt anything, considering I have kept my distance for no reason.
“My king?” She asks questioningly.
“Yes?” I growl even though I try not to.
“I am here to meet Lord Marshall, my betrothed. I think, at least. Do you know him?” She says quietly.
“I do!” I tell her. What I don’t tell her is that I am her betrothed.
We dance to one song and then another. She melts against me and it feels right. After the second song she pulls away and apologizes. She then turns from me and goes in search of someone else.
I sigh when I see that she has sought out Thomas. Of course, she would. When I turn back around, she is gone and I get a glimpse of her dancing with a strange man. I growl and try to keep my anger under control, but it doesn’t work.
A young girl maybe nineteen years of age comes to me and asks to dance. I growl at her and turn away. I know that as of now I have fur sprouting up in random places. When I turn there is another girl this one grabs my arm and pulls herself into my chest.
This is not happening! I can’t breathe, my joints are slowly changing and my body is over heated with fur. I pull away and head up the three stairs to my throne and turn to the crowd.
“Can I get everyone’s attention please.” I yell over the music to be heard. They all turn and the music stops.
“I am King Marshall Rowan, as many of you may know. Today I am here to officially announce my engagement to Duchess Corabell James De’pue of the Northern Kingdom.” All eyes turn to her and she takes a step back.
She had no idea I was her soon to be husband or that I was a King, her king. I know I look like a beast currently and I hope it doesn’t scare her away. I watch as Thomas says something in her ear and she looks at me once again. I see the tears spilling down her face as she turns and runs out the door.
I try to go after her but am stopped by many men to wish me congratulations and many women still trying their luck. Some hoping I will take a mistress and that it will be them. One young woman even throws herself at me and kisses me.
I pull her away just in time to see Corabell’s eyes widen and her flee the room. I growl and the many people surrounding me bac
k away. The one woman who kissed me winks at me and then grabs my arm like I plan to take her to bed.
“I will not be taking another. Only my wife! You all need to understand that any one who throws themselves at me again will be forbidden from returning to the palace. I will also cease any agreements made with said families.” I say as calmly as I can.
The woman looks like I hit her as see recoils. She lets go of my arm and an older gentleman takes her by the elbow and drags her away. I can only hope that it gets through these people’s heads that I am not like my father.
I will not have many lovers, I will not tolerate women throwing themselves at me at their fathers wishes. I will stay true to my wife no matter if she hates me or not. They clear a path for me and I rush from the room.
When Corabell was in my arms I felt peace for the first time in an awfully long time. I need to find her and fix this. I think I scared her by announcing it the way I did. All eyes were on her and I don’t think she liked that very much.
I rush up to her room only to be greeted by silence. I search everywhere but she’s not up here. I turn and rush down the hall to the girl’s room. She isn’t there either.
I pause in the hall and try to think. What do I know about her? Where would she be? That’s when it hits me…the library. She was a librarian, she loves books. I’ll go to the main library and hopefully she is there.
I get to the doors to the library and pause. I know she is in here. I can feel it! I slowly push the doors open and step inside. I hear yelling so I go towards it.
I watch as she throws book after book at Thomas. He ducks most of them, but a few hit him square on. She’s ranting about something and he’s taking the brunt of it.
“You could have told me he was a king. You could have told me that there weren’t two men but one immensely powerful one. How do I know this is the better choice? My father made a deal with him. God, I am such a fool. I should have just headed to the property my mother left me.” She throws another book and Thomas ducks again.
Corabell and Her Beast Page 3
