To avoid her mother and sister for the rest of the day, Cecily planned to plead a megrim. She would tell them that the sun from the tea party had agitated her eyes, and that she needed to just rest. She knew they would likely be concerned, but she hoped they would believe her.
As her father promised, Greta came to see about her only moments after he left.
“Did something happen to your father?” she asked, closing the door behind her.
Cecily looked toward her maid. She wanted to confide in someone. But she did not know if she was ready to discuss the sudden proposal right then. Still, she could not bring herself to lie to her friend. She felt guilty enough for her mother and sister.
“Yes,” she admitted. “But I would like some time to think before I talk about it.”
She could feel Greta’s concern. The maid rubbed her arm gently and sighed.
“I understand,” she said. “If you change your mind, just let me know. I will come check on you, to keep up appearances for your family.”
Cecily smiled at her friend.
“You are too good to me,” she said.
Greta squeezed her shoulder before taking her leave. As the door closed quietly behind the maid, Cecily thought again about her secrecy. It was not like her to hide things from her family and dear maid. But then, nothing so big and shocking had ever happened before. What would she even say to them? Could she handle the overwhelming wave of questions and advice that she would receive?
To her surprise, she began to feel sleepy shortly after Greta left her room. She closed her eyes, relishing the comfort of her bed and the quieting of her racing thoughts. She had expected the duke’s proposal to keep her awake for days. But before she even knew it, she was fast asleep.
She awoke early the next morning, having slept away half of the previous day. She felt very much awake and physically refreshed, but her mind was still spinning. Greta came in to help her dress, smiling softly at her.
“You slept soundly all night, milady,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
Cecily sighed.
“Like I will be awake for a fortnight,” she said.
Greta giggled.
“Well, let us get you ready for breakfast,” she said.
Cecily was reluctant to join her family in the dining hall. But she was determined to get herself back to behaving normally. She still felt terrible at having worried her mother and sister. She would not continue to be selfish anymore. She could work out her thoughts in her own time.
Naturally, her mother abandoned her breakfast the moment Greta led Cecily into the dining hall.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” the Countess asked, taking her daughter in her arms.
Cecily kissed her cheek and smiled brightly.
“I am fine now, Mother,” she said. “I think I just needed a bit of sleep.”
Agnes giggled and Cecily could hear relief in it. She came to join Cecily and their mother, embracing them both at once.
“I’ll say,” she said. “I thought you were going to sleep until next Season.”
Cecily managed a laugh.
“Do not give me any ideas,” she said.
She kept her smile throughout the rest of the meal as her mother and sister chatted happily. But she said nothing more, her mind focused on what her father had said to her the previous day. It was a miracle that she had been able to avoid having to tell the rest of her family about it. Now, she wondered if that was a good thing, after all.
Would she have been better off talking to Agnes about it? Would her mother have more advice than her father had been able to give her?
“Darling?” her mother asked, concerned creeping into her voice. “You haven’t eaten a thing. Are you sure you are feeling alright?”
Cecily smiled so brightly that it hurt her cheeks. She made a show of scooping a large bite of porridge and putting the spoon up to her lips.
