Chapter 15

A wedding in a weeks time, I've learned, is an extremely difficult and challenging task, especially when one of the main parties happen to be Angela.

"Isn't there a dress a little lighter than this? Maybe with a bit more volume around here? There needs to be a matching grooms suit as well", she rambled on while admiring the very dress on her body. She truly looked like an Angel, usually she was a sight for sore eyes and right now she was breathtaking. I almost couldn't believe my eyes.

On the side lines sat the groom. And despite, the hours he sat patiently he still looked like a puppy in love. I learned that he truly loved Angela and that made me feel at ease at the idea of him taking care of her, although he still flinched when I looked his way.

"Bella! Try on your dress!" Angela held a yellow gown before me, something much too luxurious for a maid.

"Angela- that dress is way too!"-

"The master picked it and said you had to wear it. It matches with his clothes", she argued without a thought to what her words meant.

I stared at her in shock and then a bit scared of the obvious answer, I spoke, "I- Is the young Duke attending the wedding?"

"Of course he is. He arranged it after all!" She stared down another dress, one she finally seemed to like.

"And he'll be… my…?" I felt my hands tremble.

"He wanted to be your date", she answered, this time slower and more considerately as she gave a sympathetic glance.

I felt lightheaded at the very idea.

Don't- don't dates mean… interlocking arms? And dancing?… and staying next to each other for most the night…. They're usually seated next to each other as well….

"A-Angela. If I happen to call sick during the wedding please go on without me", I shakily took a seat, grasping onto the arm rests for my dear life as my sister began to panic.

"No! No Bella! I can't have a wedding without my only family present! I- I know the duke being there is scary- but he's actually kind of nice! He was just very lonely and gave the wrong impression!" She really tried.

I sighed, taking a mental glance at my healing hands and my feet that still blistered painfully. They were both hidden carefully from Angela.

"Right", I shook my head with a sigh and even a small smile, "I shouldn't miss my little sisters wedding because of something so silly".

Her face relaxed into a delighted smile, "right!"

And then she turned back to the dresses while I felt my head fall in my hands.

What am I going to do?

I hadn't expected Justin to leave so suddenly. I thought he might attend the wedding and that we'd go together, arms in each other's, dancing, the bashful glances…. Now that was just a far fantasy! That would become my greatest nightmare instead!

We had spent the day choosing flowers that will decorate the hall, that took much longer than necessary and after an hour we picked the food to be served and again this took much longer than needed.

After that it was reviewing the guest list as we headed to the new house in the carriage. I had yet to see the house, but judging by Angela's reaction I didn't expect too much. I leaned back on my seat with a long sigh of exhaustion.

Are weddings truly worth it? Maybe eloping would be better? Or maybe not even marrying in the first place!

But just as I thought that I glanced at the two sitting opposite me. They gazed at a catalogue of children clothes with their heads resting on each other's. Hands held as they imagines their own children with such warm and loving gazes that I felt a bit embarrassed for staring and even… even a bit envious.

So that was love… true, unfiltered love.

I turned to look outside as the carriage came to a stop. It was at a beautiful field, full of vegetation and fruit, long rows, upon long rows of field work. Worker could be seen, crouching on the dirty floor, climbing up in trees to collect its fruits or just to spray away the pests from eating their hard work.

It was beautiful.

As if it were a dream, at the far end, just a little away from the field was the most nicest house I'd ever laid on. I let out a gasp without realising and nearly jumped out of the window.

"Is-Is that?!" I turned to Angela whilst my finger pointed at the house. My face must've looked strange because both her and Alex, her fiancé, laughed.

"That's the house, Bella. Let's go inside!" Angela threw her arm around me as she rushed me through the field made into a pathway. It was skilfully walled with flowers that bloomed, all of them a welcoming lilac.

I hadn't expected this when he promised a house. I expected something that nobles might call a shed, but commoners would call a suitable lodging.

N-Not this!

Nevertheless, I couldn't wipe the look of awe on my face as a women, clearly a housemaid, opened the door to the house that was just as impressive outside as it was inside. The rich carpet floor, the grand staircase, a sitting area furnished with things we could only dream of.

Was this truly… real?

Angela grinned at my face. She had already moved to the house and must've gone through exactly what I was feeling, but knowing her she must've really wanted to surprise me.

"Do you remember how we've always wanted to jump onto the dukes' sofa's?" She said with a mischievous face, and then with a quick wink she ran forward and launched herself onto the very exact replica of that sofa.

I stared at her, stunned. But when she gestured at me to copy her, I felt a smile tug on my face and made the run, jumping when the sofa was close enough and with the softest impact ever I found myself giggling maniacally on the sofa with Angela.

"Have you tried sliding down the banister?" I felt giddy at the thought that kept me up at night as a kid.

"Let's go!" Angela gave me an approving thumbs up as we both ran up the stairs, all the way to the very top and might I add this was a three story house.

This had always been a fantasy of ours, insignificant enough to not be pursued, lest we enjoy being beaten ruthless. But now, nobody stopped us. Everything here belonged to Angela, and that made the difference enough this time.

I grasped the polished wood, it felt slippery beneath my fingers. I grinned at that and hopped onto the thick banister. The slope made sliding down immediate and with the length of it, it began to speed up, accelerating with each passing second, until I realised… that the stop would not be a pretty sight.