The Earl sighed.
“Forgive me, darling,” he said. “I suppose I am being rather dramatic about this. But I am still reeling. You see, the Duke came to ask for your hand in marriage.”
Cecily’s mouth fell open, and she blinked her fading eyes. She was blind, that much was true. But she was certain there was nothing wrong with her hearing. Since she began losing her eyesight, she had become fully reliant on her other senses. Particularly, her sense of smell and her sense of hearing. And yet, her father could not have just said what she thought he had said.
“Pardon me, Papa,” she said slowly. “Will you repeat what you just said?”
The Earl chuckled lightly.
“And now you understand my drawn-out theatrics as I tried to tell you,” he said. “I feel just as surprised as you do now.”
Cecily nodded slowly, though more out of surprise than because she understood. That was a conversation she had long since accepted that she would never have with her father. It seemed so surreal that she believed she was dreaming. But when she pinched her arm, it stung, and she was still in her father’s study, baffled by his announcement.
“Oh, darling, please forgive me,” her father said suddenly, cupping her face in his hands. “I didn't mean to say that I am surprised because you do not deserve a marriage proposal. Certainly, that is not the case. I believe that you deserve the world. I apologize if my words came across in a cruel, thoughtless manner.”
It took Cecily a minute to understand what her father was saying. She was still trying to process the fact that the Duke had come asking for her hand in marriage. When it dawned on her what he was thinking, however, she covered his hands with hers and removed them from her face to squeeze them softly.
“Oh, Papa,” she said, giggling despite herself. “I know precisely why you are surprised. It is for the same reason that I am. And I can imagine that your shock must be great, indeed. You were preparing to receive proposals of courtship for Agnes, not marriage proposals for me.”
Her father sighed heavily with relief. He was clearly glad that Cecily understood his feelings. That was another thing that had strengthened since losing her sight: her ability to read people, even though she could not see their facial expressions.
“Exactly, my dear,” he said. “Forgive me. I suppose that I was also nervous about how you would take this news.”
Cecily nodded again. She didn’t know how she was taking the news. She did not know what to think at all. She loved her mother and sister dearly, but her father had always been her strength. When she needed practical guidance, it was to him she turned. And she had never needed such guidance more than she did in that moment.
“What should I do, Papa?” she asked.
The Earl sighed. She had no doubt that he had been expecting her question, or that he had no idea what advice to give her.
“I have not yet given my blessing for his proposal,” he said. “I told him that I would speak with you before I did any such thing. It is entirely up to you to decide if this is what you want.”
Confirmation that her father had no advice sent her mind reeling again. Of course, marriage and the potential to have a family was something she had always wanted. But the proposal came so suddenly. She and the Duke knew nothing about each other. That, she supposed, was the point of an arranged marriage. But usually, those were arranged between two people who at least knew each other.
There were so many thoughts swimming around in her head. She could feel her father watching her, and she could sense his worry increasing by the second. She did not want him to be any more distressed than he already was. She swallowed and did her best to give him a reassuring smile.
“I need some time to think about this,” she said, hating her voice for trembling.
Her father put his arm around her, and he softly patted her shoulder.
“Of course, my dear,” he said affectionately. “You can take all the time you need. And once you have made your decision, I will be happy to speak to the duke for you. I know this is overwhelming for you, and I want you to think it over carefully. Do not make a decision with which you are not entirely comfortable.”
Cecily nodded, kissing her father on the cheek. She rose, and her father followed suit, giving her his arm.
“Will you walk me to my bedchambers, Papa?” she asked.
Her father patted her hand gently.
“Of course, darling,” he said.
They walked in silence. Cecily tried to keep her expression bland and not telling, lest they encounter Agnes or her mother on the way. She was hardly ready to face them, even with something so important. Her father had told her she could take all the time she needed. But did the Duke agree? How long would he wait for an answer?
By the time she and her father reached her bedchambers, she felt intense fatigue. The party and the confrontation, plus the news her father had given her were taking their toll on her. She gladly let her father help her into bed, falling instantly against her pillows with a sigh.
“Do you need anything, Cecily?” the Earl asked.
She shook her head, giving him a warm smile.
“No, thank you, Papa,” she said.
