its cygnets as they sat on the water. Father had it designed and built for Mother as a wedding present. Most of the garden was
decorated for her.
“Not cold feet, Ella. I am just wondering if I am doing the right thing.”
“You don’t love Gelda?”
He sighed and put his head in his hands, clearly something was troubling him. I wondered how much advice I would be
able to give. I wasn’t experienced in the world of relationships or love.
“I am marrying her because I was a fool who did not protect us both. Now, we have a child on the way and must marry fast
because if we do not, she will be shunned from society, and it will be my fault.”
My brother, although sometimes a pompous ass, always tried his best to protect people. He liked to think the best of them,
and if he caused any harm or trouble to someone else, he carried that burden with him deeply. Gelda was no different.
“I enjoy her company, please don’t think I do not. She is a wonderful person to be around, and she makes me laugh. But
love, no. I am fond of her, yes. And if she does not begin to show, I fear after this wedding we will both be stuck in a marriage
neither of us wanted.”
“Perhaps, you can delay?”
He laughed a nervous laugh then and rubbed his temples. Clearly he'd already thought of postponing the wedding, and I
wished for his sake that a delay could be done. By his reaction, it was easy to assume that wasn't going to happen.
“My only hope is her monthly arrival or we lose this child.”
I was taken aback by his words a little. I never expected him to say such things. He always expressed to me how he could
not wait for the day he became a father. Then again we were still quite young, and he still wanted to do more, see more.
“Well, one can only wait and see what happens. I believe you will both have a marriage in friendship, which may turn into
love one day.”
Placing my hand on his, I smiled up at him and he returned a smile back. Not a happy smile, but a smile, nonetheless.
“Help me organise this competition, that will help take your mind off of things. Maybe you can help with the guest list, and
yes, invite Lord Cole for me, I do enjoy speaking with him.”
Nodding with another huff of a laugh, we continued to sit outside in the garden enjoying the spring sunshine and watching as
our staff went on with their day. I had missed spending time with my brother. It seemed this last year we had begun to lose our
friendship as more responsibilities were thrown onto us.
“Norok, I must ask. Do you think Lord Cole came to my potential husband's dinner with the hopes I’d be interested? I know
you mentioned that if he married well, his life would be set.”
I needed to know if it was a good idea to show him interest. If he didn’t see me as a possible wife, I would need to put my