“Are you sure he is not going to leave you pregnant and alone only to attend some business trips?” Elizabeth inquired in a low tone.
As soon as Céline had reached home with Damien, she stylishly dragged Céline into her room for questioning.
“Aunt, it’s too early in the morning for these kinds of interrogation. I am tired.” Céline whined, passing a hand over her messy hair.
She had such a peaceful night in Damien’s arms. He kept whispering sweet words to her until they had both falling asleep on the large romantic bed back at Charles’ palace of a home. It was the kind of bed, Céline referred to as Romeo and Juliet’s bed.
When she first saw it, she got scared. She wasn’t ready yet. She loved Damien with all her heart but she wasn’t ready to give in sexually to him yet. She had promised her aunt that she would wait till her wedding night and that was what she planned to do.
She feared the bed might make Damien have ideas and demand sex from her. But, he didn’t. He seemed to have understood her unspoken words. After that long kiss, they shared, they had changed their clothes and taken some refreshments provided by the maid Mirilyn had sent. After that they just cuddled until they fell asleep. The memories of the previous night was so sweet she could almost taste it in her guts. Just thinking about them made her smile.
“Are you even listening to me? Rich men like Damien don’t usually have time for their wives!”
Now her aunt was trying to ruin her sweet memories. Céline frowned.
“I don’t want you running back to me after I hand you over to him on the alter. He needs to be there when the babies start coming, I don’t care if he owns half the world!” Elizabeth kept going on and on about the marriage decision.
“Have you even spoken about parenting? You can’t do it on your own Céline, he would have to be there. The children would need a father!”
What was she talking about, Céline wondered. How did the discussion go from Damien wanting to marry her and talks about children?
“Aunt… Why are we talking about babies and children? We are not even married yet and you are talking about that? Aunt!” Céline asked, her brows meeting together.
“Yes Céline! We need to talk about everything!”
Céline placed two of her fingers on her temples and rubbed gently. Damien was right outside the room, sitting in the parlor -probably boring himself to death- waiting for her aunt Elizabeth to come out with an approval and here she was getting tortured with talks about babies.
“Aunt, all we want are your blessings.” Céline groaned.
Elizabeth remained quiet and took a good look at her niece. She tried to decipher if Céline was hiding anything, but she couldn’t find any. Céline seemed to genuinely want to marry Damien. She was smiling so much when they returned, her happy glow was contagious.
This was what Elizabeth wanted for her dear niece, Céline. She wanted her to be happy with the man she chose to spend the rest of her life with. Elizabeth just wasn’t sure if Damien would be there for Céline given the type of businesses he ran. But since Céline was happy, what could she do, other than approve and pray they loved each other for eternity.
Elizabeth released a long sigh, “Okay.” Céline stared at her expectantly and she pointed to the door.
“Let’s go back out,” Elizabeth said before pulling the door of her bedroom door open and walking to the living room.
Céline was confused at her aunt’s sudden change in mood but followed her out anyway.
Damien got up the moment Elizabeth reached his line of sight. Elizabeth smiled, approving his manners and went to take a seat on the couch adjacent the one Damien was previously occupying.
“You may have your seat back.” She told him, then turned to Céline. “Come sit with me.”
Céline nodded and walked slowly to where she sat and placed herself close to her aunt.
“So, I have spoken to Céline…” Elizabeth began taking a hold of Céline’s hand.
“… and she is really serious about this.”
Céline’s heart was beating as she didn’t know exactly where her aunt was going with the speech. She stared at Damien and he seemed to be holding his breath as he watched Céline aunt with apt attention.
“I want to leave this life knowing, I left my Céline with the right person. You see, she’s all I have.”
Céline felt a warmth fill her heart and she squeezed her aunt’s hand lovingly.
“I want her to be happy but I worry you might not have the time to make her happy-”
“Aunt, he-” Céline started speaking but Elizabeth silenced her.
“Can you make her happy, Damien?”
“I will lay my life down for Céline’s happiness…” Damien answered with so much seriousness and conviction, Céline felt a gush of emotions flow through her. It was like she was falling in love with Damien all over again.
Damien as if sensing the emotions going through Céline, turned his eyes to her, “Céline is the light that came into my life when I thought I would drown in darkness…”
“My wealth is worthless compared to Céline… I’ll rather be a poor man with her by my side. I love your niece with everything I’ve got.”
Elizabeth smiled, recognizing the love in his eyes as he spoke. Her smile grew even bigger as she saw the same emotion reflect in Céline’s sea blue eyes. It reminded her of her dead husband. This was the same way, they used to look at each other. This was true love.
“You’ve said it all. I am convinced.”
Elizabeth got so emotional tears threatened to slip out of her eyes, she sniffed and wiped a stray tear with the back of her hand. She then smiled at the both of them.
“When do you plan to fix a date?” She asked Damien.
“I was thinking as soon as Céline wanted but…” He returned his eyes to Céline and a worry line formed across his forehead.
“My mother called while you were both in there. She wants it as soon as possible…” He looked uncomfortable as he spoke.
Céline’s ears perked up at the comment. This was good news! She thought happily. Not only would she be marrying the love of her life as soon as possible, but she would be able to finally get the money she needed to pay John and also punish the people who ordered her parent’s murder.
“But we don’t have to rush things. I can wait for as long as Céline wants me to-” Damien stuttered.
“How soon does your mother want the wedding to hold?” Elizabeth asked with a frown.
Elizabeth believed in a slow and steady relationship not a rushed one. To her, Damien and Céline needed more time to know each other and understand one another before getting married.
“In a fortnight.” He announced and Céline’s butterflies broke down in a happy dance.
Her luck was finally paying off. She was getting everything she wanted without even working too hard for it. This was a true definition of killing two birds with one stone. She was marrying the love of her life and she would also get the chance to avenge her dear parents.
“That’s only two weeks away!” Elizabeth gasped. “That’s too soon!”
“Yeah, I thought so too. I tried to-” Damien tried to explain but Céline cut him off.
“It’s fine!” She said, jumping with uncontrolled excitement.
Elizabeth and Damien turned to look at her. Damien was happy and relieved at the same time but Elizabeth didn’t look happy with the outburst.
“Céline, how can you be okay with that. Why such a rush?”
Céline wanted to tell her that she was finally getting all she wanted and more, but Damien was still in the room and she didn’t want him to misinterpret her plans.
She returned back to her position on the couch beside her aunt and held her aunt’s hands.
“Aunt, I don’t think it’s a rush. Damien and I love each other. We want to be together. I don’t see why we have to wait for months to do that. ”
Elizabeth stared up at her like Céline had grown another head. “But Céline you barely know him!” Elizabeth whispered.
“I love him…” She whispered back, stealing a glance at Damien who stared between aunt and niece trying to comprehend what was going on.
“… and that’s what actually matters aunt. Not the time, not the wait. If his mum wants us to get married in two weeks, I am fine with it. I want to marry him as soon as possible.”
Seeing the determination in Céline’s sea blue eyes, Elizabeth knew she wouldn’t be able to convince her other wise. She only prayed that Céline and Damien stayed this much in love with one another forever, that way she wouldn’t have to regret when she looked back to this day.
“If that’s want you really want, then I support you my dear.”