Chapter 2 2

II. A Mismatch and a Pact

Calan, Lord of Easton, was among the most eligible gentlemen in The Town. His father, the Lord of Haverston, owned almost half of the eastern part of the entire country. Their bloodline had been among the luckiest until Calan and his brothers were born, in Cressida's honest opinion. The brothers never did anything but spend their wealth going around the country, engaging in trysts that The Town Herald was only happy to make front page news.

But they were gentlemen and they had titles in their names. Those were enough to make all mamas push their willing daughters to any balls or gatherings the Haverston brothers may decide to grace with their presence. And most often than not, they would pass up the chance. It was very rare to find the three brothers in the middle of a ballroom, which made the mamas even more desperate.

And when word got out that the eldest brother, Lord of Easton, was finally getting married, Cressida's life turned upside down. Not only was she subjected to most of the ladies' ire and envy, she was also the favorite example of the mamas as they wagged their tongues on the subject of seducing one of The Town's most elusive bachelors like the Haverston brothers.

That last bit was the most infuriating thing for Cressida. There was no seduction. There was not even a dance shared between her and the Lord of Easton, an opportunity most ladies as her standing would grab for a chance to brush their gloved fingers over a nobleman as their great attempt for seduction. And to hear rumors such as having been caught on a tryst with Easton was outrageous! No such thing happened.

There was merely a secret negotiation between the parents who thought it best that their eldest should marry each other. Her father, the Lord of Belverst doubled her dowry, in case the Lord of Haverston changed his mind, and her mother, Lady Eloise, promised Cressida could sire the Haverstons as many heirs as they needed despite the fact that she herself bore an only child and she was nowhere near to being called a 'son'.

Be that as it may but Cressida knew that to throw a tantrum was not only unladylike, but it would also only strengthen her parents' resolve to marry her off to Easton. They had tried to take her to numerous balls, dressed her in the best dresses the town could offer, taught her everything about how to be a wife, and yet she had not received a single proposal for marriage. Not that Lady Cressida was unpleasant to the eyes-in fact, she could make a few gentlemen turn to give her a second look-but she surrounded herself with an air of confidence that most men would not want for a wife. She spoke her mind on too many occasions than warranted, much to her mother's mortification. And when the poor woman would leave her for a few minutes in the presence of a satisfactory marital candidate, her daughter would always be alone when she gets back, having scared the man away with her honest remarks on politics and history. And most often than not, she could not stand to be in the midst of other ladies without giving an honest opinion about why their dresses were almost choking them or if they could breathe through their corsets at all. They would never hide their shock and distaste over her vulgar remarks as well, making matters worse for Cressida's marred reputation of being unladylike.

Many would say she was a scandal about to happen, but in Cressida's mind, she had already been judged as such. From the first time she tripped on her dress and smashed a rather humongous ice masterpiece into pieces, she had always been Cressida, the scandalous girl. Or maybe it was that time she had joked about kissing Lord Preston's oily face to have a delectable gloss on her lips. Or maybe when she accidentally drank a glass of brandy and made a fool of herself in front of a Lord, asking him to please marry her so she didn't have to suffer another season of husband hunting.

After three years of having come out of society as a lady eligible for marriage, Cressida was a total failure as her mother would regret to say.

And it was only about time that she be betrothed to someone of their choosing and that someone was no other than Lord Calan of Easton, the elusive bachelor. Well, no longer elusive because he had just been caught. And he unwillingly at that. With that knowledge in mind, Cressida was almost certain the man would love to hear about her marvelous plan. But first, she had to face her parents and request a private meeting with Lord Calan.

Lady Eloise's eyes widened when she saw Cressida and Meredith enter the large hall of their estate. "However did you manage to walk around the streets without a corset?!" she hissed at her daughter. Before Cressida could answer her mother turned to glare at Meredith, "You are supposed to make sure she changes into something proper."

Cressida rolled her light blue eyes and kept on walking to the large staircase to go to her room. "If you have not noticed, mother, we are located hundreds of feet below the earth and breathing without a corset is already a struggle as it is." Her mother was behind her, having dismissed Meredith to prepare a bath for Cressida. "And if we are going to discuss my choice of wardrobe, I'd like to point out that I am tired and want to-"

"You've been gone almost the whole day and it is not proper for a lady, especially one who is about to marry, to wander around the streets."

"I have it in honest opinion that the whole population of The Town, specifically Willowfair, has no qualms about me walking alone with a chaperone." She reached the door to her room and added under her breath, "They would only be happy to witness me in the midst of a scandal," which her mother's keen ears heard clearly.

"From this day on, you are not permitted to go out of the estate until you are married."

She fixed a faint smile on her lips that did not reach her eyes and said, "And I will then be my husband's problem, won't I?"

"What do you mean by that?"

That you consider me your problem, she wanted to say but settled with, "Nothing, mother." She opened her door. "I am really tired. And if my recollection is right, the Haverstons will be calling in a few hours."

"Yes, you are right. I better hurry and make sure that everything is in order before dinner." With that, the lady turned and gracefully made her way back downstairs.

Cressida sighed and entered her room.

*****

Cressida had to constantly remind herself to take a breath as the evening went on, else she would faint in the middle of the meal's courses. She was doing just that when a low, manly voice asked, "Are you feeling fine?"

She snapped her head to meet the Lord of Easton's dark gaze from across the table then slightly turned to see if her parents and his father took notice of his question. It seemed that both fathers were intently listening to her mother's grand plans for the wedding.

"I'm quite alright, My Lord," she answered under her breath. Meredith must have put a lot of effort in securing her stays earlier after having heard an earful from her mother for letting Cressida out of the house without a corset. Calan raised one thick brow at her, telling her he didn't believe her. Cressida gritted her teeth but remained silent and smiled at him instead.

The Lord of Easton was handsome indeed. Else, why would women fall on their feet in his presence? But what they didn't know, and what Cressida fortunately had the privilege to learn, was that he was a cold, all-knowing, arrogant bastard. He never hid that part of him the first time they met years ago when his father held a party for his birthday when they were barely out of the schoolroom. She had the opportunity to meet him after her mother almost literally pushed her in his direction, telling Cressida that Calan could very well be her future husband. At that time, Cressida, still full of fairytale stories, believed her mother. She had thought, in her little mind, that she would find a friend in him but Calan had always been serious and adamant to be left alone even as a boy. She had followed him around the house and to the pond where he finally had enough of her and pushed her into the pond when she refused to leave at his insistence.

His dark hair and blue eyes could fool all women of all ages all over The Town, but not Cressida. She didn't have to attempt to know him more after that unfortunate afternoon in the pond where she was brought home crying and her dress drenched, swearing that Calan Haverston was no prince charming.

When the present and older Calan sitting across the table moved his head to see if their parents were still engaged in a conversation, Cressida was drawn back to the present and their impeding marriage.

"My Lord, I know this is not the best of time to say this," she started, her eyes anxiously looking over her parents, "but I would like to have a private conversation with you after dinner."

Calan's brows arched in surprise but the rest of his features did not even twitch, making Cressida even more uncomfortable. It was hard to read the man. And if she was to spend the rest of her life with him, she'd rather spend it with a book with blank pages.

When he did not answer, Cressida raised her brows higher and leaned over her plate. "Well?" she whispered.

He was silent for a moment before he finally gave a curt nod.

Cressida smiled inwardly. It was settled then. She'd ask him to help with her plan and if things went accordingly, they'd not have to suffer an unwanted marriage.

*****

Calan noticed that Cressida was getting restless. The dinner went smoothly and they were now in the sitting room having tea. He would have given anything to not be where he was right now and since that was not happening he thought it would be best to escape any conversation that spoke about the wedding.

Finally, he stood up just as when Lady Eloise was about to speak to him and announced, "If it is not improper, I'd like to get some air out in the garden." He turned to Cressida who was almost at the edge of her seat and added, "Would you like to accompany me, Lady Cressida?"

Lady Eloise clapped her hands together and with glee said, "Oh, how marvelous. The air outside is much better."

Cressida didn't have to be prodded to the task and stood up when Calan stood before her and hooked her hand in his arm.

Their fathers were busy talking about business with their cigars to notice them walk out the doors that led to the gardens. And the moment they were out of eyesight, Cressida retrieved her hand and walked faster, far away from earshot. Calan calmly followed. He had to admit that he was quite intrigued about Cressida's sudden request to talk to him in private.

When she finally stopped, surrounded by fake greenery, she turned to him and said, "I don't want to marry you. At all."

Her eyes were almost dark and wide as she uttered the words and Calan fought the urge to laugh. "I'm afraid the matter is already settled, My Lady."

She shook her head in annoyance. "You very well know we don't like each other. You don't want to marry. I don't want to marry you."

Calan cocked his head to the right and looked at her. Cressida wasn't ugly. In fact, any man would agree that she had enough physical attributes that would do. If she could only behave like other ladies in their circle, she would be married by now. And he didn't have to find himself betrothed at all. "I suppose you already have a plan?"

The smile that broke her face almost shocked him. It lightened her features and he almost wanted to step closer and inspect her face with his hands. But then, what good would that do? Even if they were about to be married, Calan already had plans on how to get away with it. None was good as of the moment and he was very willing to hear hers as she said, "I do. It will sound impossible, but I think it is not entirely so. However, I will need your help."

"My help."

"If you don't want this wedding to happen, you will have to help me."

"In my thirty years, I have never been asked by a woman to help her escape a marriage with me," he uttered with amusement.

Cressida scoffed, an act a lady wouldn't do in front of a gentleman, or anyone, at all, which only proved to Calan why she was still unmarried at twenty-four. "Don't be too arrogant about it, My Lord, because not all women would die trying to be your wife. Include me in the list if it does exist."

"Your plan, Cressida?" It was the first time he called her by her name and he saw that she was not at all pleased to be addressed so informally while some women have already dreamed of it.

She squared her shoulders and said, "I want to get out of The Town."

Her statement rendered him speechless for a long while and when he realized she was very serious about it, his brows knitted in a line. "You mean you want to go up there."

She nodded her head. "Yes. And I don't intend to go back."

"You know it is impossible."

"It has never been tried," she corrected. "Not that I know of, at least."

"And this is where my help comes in?" he asked.

"Yes. You will help me escape."

It was then that Calan let a rumble of laughter escape his throat. "You know you can run to the other side of The Town, escape and hide somewhere far, but not really get out, Cressida. It is impossible."

"I will find a way," she strongly said, her head held high, that he almost believed she could do it. But not with my help, he thought. He mentally shook the idea out of his head. He had vowed to keep his secrets and he wouldn't jeopardize them by saying a word even if it meant getting out of this marriage.

"Is marrying me that horrible that you would want to risk getting out of The Town?" he asked, his voice without a trace of hurt. He was merely curious.

"Yes. Because I intend to marry for love. And I believe I will find it up there." So she had lost hope, Calan thought. Marry for love? He almost laughed at the idea.

"If you manage to get out of this place, how could you be sure that my father would not find a way to marry me off to the next girl in town?" he asked. "I know that you are desperate to get out of this marriage, but I am not a fool to help you and get myself trapped in the same mess again. I'd rather marry you now than have another chit who might be worse than you." He saw anger flare in her eyes and he found he was getting amused by them.

Cressida took a deep breath. "But if I disappear, they will look for me. You wouldn't have to marry another if your current bride is missing. That will buy you more time to find a suitable and tolerable girl to marry other than me."

Calan saw her point and understood it. But the problem was, he didn't want to marry.

Maybe it was because he didn't reply as fast as she wanted him to, or because she thought he was not taking this matter seriously, Cressida squared her shoulders and said, "Fine. If you cannot help me, I will do it on my own. And I am telling you, My Lord, that if I fail, I will make sure that you will suffer for the rest of your life because I will not be a willing wife."

She lifted her skirts and started to stride away from him and back into the house. Something about the way she moved and spoke those words told Calan that Cressida was utterly serious and would most probably get into trouble if he didn't step in. As her plans played inside his mind, he couldn't find a reason why he couldn't help her. Her disappearance would mean two things: One, people would give him years as he attempted to find his bride until his father died and he wouldn't be forced to sire an heir, a task he would gladly give over to his brothers; Two, people would talk and think he was the reason she disappeared and his reputation would be ruined. No mama would want to marry their daughters off to a man who might have very well murdered his bride.

Would it be worth it? Would helping Cressida escape The Town help him at all? Because, by God, Calan knew a way to get out.

But before he could call himself stupid for doing it, Calan called out to her and said, "Wait. I'll help you." Cressida turned, her face full of hope and smiling. "I'll help you," he repeated dryly.