Chapter 75
“Well, Lord Headington…”
“I’ve heard there are pills women can take if they don’t want children, but is there anything I can take?”
“I’m afraid not. Oral contraceptives only work for women, not men.”
Their goals as a couple couldn’t have been more different. And because of medical ethics, the doctor couldn’t reveal any information about other patients, which was frustrating.
Really, they were a rather odd couple.
* * *
The cozy hospital room was filled with a chilly tension.
The Count had been practically forced into giving his blessing for the marriage, and he wasn’t happy with how rushed everything felt. He knew he was in no position to choose his daughter’s partner, but it was still hard for him to feel at ease, especially since she was his only child.
Still, uneasy as he was, he knew he had to seize the opportunity to push Lilien’s marriage through when it came.
“So, when are you planning the ceremony?”
Before Cairn could say anything strange, Lilien jumped in first.
“I think it’s better to wait until Father;s health improves and everything is settled. Maybe this winter would be best. I still need to help Christian with selling the villa.”
“Lili, that’s no good. It’s better to do it before it gets cold. Winter’s too far off.”
The Count shook his head at her suggestion but then nodded along with Cairn.
“I’d like to have the wedding this summer.”
Christian, sitting beside the Count, shot Cairn with a look that could kill.
“Uncle, it may as well be early summer already, so summer is far too soon.”
“If that’s what they want, we don’t have much choice.”
“But Lilien said she wanted winter!”
“So what do you say, dear?”
Christian’s eyes all but begged Lilien to push back, but she just couldn’t. She knew, her father secretly wanted to see her married off quickly, and knowing that, she just couldn’t say no.
“…No, I think summer will be fine.”
“And the location?”
Lilien’s voice was small as she lost her confidence.
“I’d like a small chapel.”
The Count’s gaze drifted to Cairn.
“A small chapel would be nice, but the palace garden would be better. It’s symbolic for the Headingtons and just as grand as any church.”
“Ha.”
The only one in the room who seemed to understand Lilien’s feelings was Christian. Cairn, on the other hand, seemed to pick up on her wishes but refused to give ground when it came to the wedding.
At some point, Lilien realized she was never going to get her way, and simply gave up.
In the end, nothing went according to Lilien’s wishes. And this pattern continued right through the dinner with the Grand Duke and Duchess.
“This summer, we’ll hold the wedding in the palace garden. I know Mother might wish otherwise, but I’d prefer to only invite close family and friends.”
The Grand Duchess just nodded wearily, while the Grand Duke seemed completely uninterested.
“Well, thanks for at least telling us.”
He had likely given up on trying to advise Cairn or change his mind—it was clear nothing would influence him.
“As always, just do whatever you want.”
Cairn only smiled with his usual brazen confidence, leaving poor Lilien to simply bow her head in resignation.
“Lili, I hope you do a good job looking after him. The two of you have made all these decisions on your own, so don’t expect me to take Cairn back into my household if it doesn’t work out, understood? He’s all yours now.”
Lilien couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d walked right into a huge trap named Cairn.
* * *
Even though they were already married, preparations for the wedding moved at a whirlwind pace under Cairn’s direction. With one exception.
As the date approached, Lilien still hadn’t bothered to look for a dress, so Cairn ended up making arrangements with the most famous atelier in Baltan.
Inside the atelier’s private fitting room, Lilien changed from dress to dress, but to her, they all looked exactly the same—just a parade of white gowns.
“Which style do you prefer? We’ve arranged them by silhouette—take a look.”
Now on the velvet platform in front of the full-length mirror, Lilien had no spark in her eyes.
“They’re all pretty.”
“How about fabric? Satin is popular, but you could try lace, too.”
“Anything’s fine.”
“And the sleeves?”
“Whatever’s most comfortable.”
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