Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 54

Great. My wedding was set in a year, and now we were having a double wedding.

"Emerson's getting married too," the dowager dropped like a bomb.

Oh, correction, a triple wedding bonanza.

Perfect.

Emerson grumbled like a lion. "I will not marry Richard Wesley, I will not!" she said defiantly.

Michael snorted a laugh. "That anorak?"

"Shut up!"

I sat on the edge of the bed beside Viv's unconscious form. She was obviously drugged. I sighed. Viv wasn't going to like this once she woke up. How could one old windbag create such disasters with swift craftiness?

^^^^^

I'd slept beside Viv. Apparently, that drug she'd been given (unwillingly) was a total sleep-bonker. Frederick had slept in another guest bedroom, while Michael and Emerson had slept alone in their own chambers.

Today, when I'd finished having lunch with the Cuttings, I had come quickly to check up on my best friend, who had already been awake.

She didn't look pretty. It was a shocker since she was so beautiful in the first place. I began telling her what had transpired.

"I was what?"

Viv looked at me with wide blue eyes, looking slightly haggard from the drug and the trip. I sympathised with her at the moment, really.

"Drugged," I repeated patiently for her. Whatever was in that drink that Frederick had told me his grandmother had concocted, it certainly made Viv's memory blurry. "Also, kidnapped."

"Where am I?" she whispered, looking frightened.

"In Frederick's room."

"No!" she snapped. "Where am I, exactly? This obviously doesn't look like San Ricardo. It's too freaking cold."

"Um..."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Caterbury, Kent." At her blank look, I swallowed and tried again. "That's in England..."

"Oh, my God!"

"Michael and Frederick's grandmother took you here along with him. Um...you're getting married next year, along with me and Michael's sister, Emerson." I chewed on my lip nervously.

Viv plopped her back on the giant pillows behind her, placing a hand on her forehead. "Oh God. I was worried about you when you and Michael when you two didn't come back. But now here I am, finally getting the scoop. You're engaged to him, a nobleman. Not only that, I am engaged, as you've said, to Frederick, who is now an earl, which he just found out yesterday. Awesome. Totally."

We felt the same.

"Well," she continued, "at least I'll marry someone I care about."

I gaped. "You like Frederick?"

"Of course." She eyed me like she couldn't believe this was new to me. "He's not only good-looking, but he's sweet and kind. What more can I ask for? Also, it's not like I'll be able to marry someone I'd actually get to choose on my own. You know my parents will set up an arrangement for me."

I had met the Duke of Rossington and went on briefly. After the eternal shock of everything, I went down the stairs all the way to the main hall to ask for something Viv could eat when she woke up (I was then informed that I didn't have to do this, since the dowager instructed the servants to care for Viv). I bumped into someone. He was tall, about six-foot-four, with eyes of the lightest blue, handsome aristocratic features, and a full head of dark hair that still suited him well. He was in a suit, and it looked like he just got back from a meeting. I gulped.

"I take it you're my son's fiancée?" he said in a low, lazy voice, peering down at me.

I nodded.

"I'm Maxwell Cutting," he continued, extending a hand.

"Keller Blakely," I mumbled, taking his warm hand in mine.

He gave a firm grip, shaking it once.

With that, he stepped back. "It was nice meeting you. I'll hopefully see you at dinner at round six-thirty? Country hours." The duke smiled unsurely, like he wasn't used to the expression. "Feel free to make yourself at home, will you?"

At my timid nod, he stepped back and awkwardly tilted a corner of his mouth for a smile again. "If you'll excuse me, I have papers to attend to. I'll see you later, Keller. Lovely to finally meet you."

Then he moved away, heading toward a hall leading to his study.

I could see why Michael didn't get along with his father. The duke was too distant. But he did say it had been lovely meeting me and all.

Right now, Viv held my hand gently. "Are you prepared for all this?"

I shook my head. "Not really. But I have to be."

"Everything's going to be okay." She sighed. "I just heard from Frederick -- he thought I was asleep -- while he was talking to a solicitor, that if he doesn't accept a wife, he'd be disinherited and all his hard work from when he was a 'mere mister' would be stripped away. I mean, really! This family takes family tradition waaay too seriously."