Page 64 of Duke of the Sun

The gardens were full of colors and butterflies. The pollinators swept through the blossoms effortlessly, even with the countless number of people surrounding them. Immediately, Cordelia wished she had brought a canvas, desperate to have the image before her permanently etched onto a blank page.

A familiar face came around a corner of bushes, a pale blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Irene’s rosy cheeks had a few strands of her hair resting across them, the rest of her hair pulled into a neat braid behind her head. She was as effortlessly beautiful as she always was. Irene stretched out her hands towards Cordelia, immediately grasping onto her.

“What a beautiful dress, sister!” Irene looked her up and down, reaching to run her hand down the wispy yellow skirts. “I was so pleased to hear you both would be attending today. Isn’t it a perfect day for a walk in the garden?” She was already pulling Cordelia away from her husband. “Won’t you take a stroll with me, Cordelia?”

“Well, I -”

Michael interjected and slipped his arm away. “Go along,my love,” he said, making sure to raise his voice as he said the last two words. “Enjoy your time with your sister.”

Cordelia’s gaze was glued to him for far too long. Of course he said it with the intention of steering the Ton towards his intended direction, but she was torn in half by what to truly believe. Perhaps it was her clueless side, the one who was still so childish, that wanted to think he meant every word. Cordelia shook her head as she pulled away, allowing her sister to lead her in the opposite direction of where Michael stood.

“Good Lord, Irene,” Cordelia groaned as Irene practically dragged her forward. “Who rushes through a garden party? For heavens’ sake!” Cordelia yanked her arm backwards, forcing her elder sister to come to a sudden stop.

Irene twisted around, her face scrunched up slightly, in the way she would as a child when she grew annoyed. “Can’t you see how difficult it is to have a private discussion in the gardens?”

A few Lords and Ladys passed them by, paying them special attention as they kept along the path.

“If you wanted to speak privately,” Cordelia grumbled, “Why didn’t you just say so?”

Irene pressed her lips together. Her cheeks bellowed, like she held back everything she wished to say. She glanced around hurriedly, searching for a place where they could speak without the chance of anyone overhearing.

Cordelia could hardly stand the waiting. She was desperate to tell her sister of everything that changed at Solshire. Everything she might have once told her mother suddenly needed to be told to Irene instead. Cordelia reached for her, grasping at her sister’s hand.

“You wouldn’t believe what’s happened with Michael and I,” Cordelia blurted.

Irene eyed her. “What’s happened now?” She grew dreadfully serious. “Don’t tell me the beastly Duke has done something out of hand.”

“Of course not, Irene!” Cordelia bit back a laugh. “So quick to fight, aren’t you!”

“Well, it’s just the things the Ton whisper about him,” Irene admitted. “It is outlandishly difficult to hear it all and not worry about my sister. You understand that, don’t you, Cordelia?”

She sighed. “That is what I’m trying to tell you. Everything ischanging,” Cordelia explained. “I believe the Duke might remain at Solshire.”

Irene’s brow shot up. “Truly?”

“We have had moments of,” Cordelia paused, searching for the right words but only coming up with an annoying burst of blushing, “Honesty, which has led me to think he wants to be my husband.”

“Thinking and believing are starkly different than truly knowing, Cordelia.” Irene tilted her head at her. “I fear you are trying to create something that does not exist.”

“Why? Because a future like that does not belong to someone like me?”

Irene huffed. “In no way did I utter such words!”

“Maybe not,” Cordelia snapped, “But it does not mean they were not your true intent.”

“Do not be childish, Cordelia,” Irene said, reaching forward to take her hands. “I am your sister. All my life, I have sought out ways to protect you, and that does not change with age. Married or not, I look after you. What I say now, is out of love, out of fear for your well being.” She touched the side of Cordelia’s face, her thumb coursing over the curve of her cheek. “But you are a woman of your own, now,” she murmured, her gaze wistful. “And your decisions are your own.”

Cordelia gazed into her sister’s face and wondered if she looked like their mother. Even though her sister’s insistence on being cautious drove a wedge of annoyance through Cordelia, she couldn’t help but let her heart grow softened. To remember that there was always a Celeston to fall back on was more comforting than Cordelia thought it would be. She wished to revel in it for a moment longer, but there was a familiar figure in the distance that caught her eye.

Focusing on the group over Irene’s shoulders, Cordelia felt the breath catch in the back of her throat.

The Earl of Vaun, Colin Evans, stood beside a blooming patch of dahlias. The afternoon sun lit up his sandy colored hair, eyes as blue as the sky peering back at her. Cordelia imagined he was merely a ghost, at first, before she remembered that he was still very much living. There was a small group of people around him, all of them engrossed with the beautiful foliage. Colin turned to whisper something in a short woman’s ear before walking towards where Cordelia stood.

“Colin Evans cannot be here,” Cordelia whispered, “Right?”

Irene exhaled sharply. “Dear sister,” she breathed, squeezing her hands, “I desperately tried to tell you before when you -”

“When I spoke of Michael.”

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