A Gilded Million

Chapter 2

Six months. The days dragged on but the months flew by. Blaire's mother paid no mind to her opinions or preferences when it came to her wedding. Instead, she was told where to be, who to meet, and when to be at fittings. Not only did she have fittings for her wedding gown, but for an entire new European wardrobe for her new life as the future duchess.

Before she could blink, June 5 had arrived. The 5th Avenue Harrington home was alive with staff bustling around in preparation for the wedding festivities tomorrow. Blaire had been dreading this day for months, considering any and all escape routes that could provide her with some form of peace and solitude, away from this life. She had even spent some time trying to understand and be excited about the wedding, but she couldn't.

Blaire had been sitting at the top of the grand staircase in her floor-length, powder blue nightgown and matching dressing robe for what felt like a lifetime. Peering down through the marble railing balusters at the hustle and bustle, Blaire was almost invisible to all of these people who were preparing for tomorrow. She sighed, wondering what would happen if she just screamed, 'Stop! I don't want to get married!' Would they stop? Of course not.

Blaire spent the remainder of the day wondering around the house aimlessly, stopping in the kitchen to sneak sweets, pausing in the library to read in a corner, and strolling through the gardens watching butterflies flit around her. Before the sun had set, Ruth found her,

"Blaire Cornelia! Have you been wondering around all day in your dressing gown? You are to be the wife of a future Duke tomorrow and you dare to be so scandalous?" Blaire didn't even try to argue with her as she was dragged upstairs.

"You'll have a light dinner, a bath and be to sleep early. We have much to do tomorrow," Ruth snapped before she strode out of the room, only for Alice to enter immediately after with a tray of soup.

"Here you are miss. I'll leave this on your table while I draw your bath," Alice commented while trying not to giggle at Blaire's irritated expression.

"She acts as though I am to marry the King of England himself tomorrow," Blaire sighed as she sat at the table and began to nibble on the food. She drew her legs up into the chair, curling up,

"The arrangements have been made. I am sure, now, that there is nothing I could possibly do to destroy her plans." She took another bite as Alice silently listened,

"Why doesn't she just marry him herself, if she's so worried about a title?" Alice laughed at this,

"I'm not sure your father would approve of such an arrangement." Blaire stood and began to undress herself as she approached the large, clawfoot bathtub that was now steaming and overflowing with bubbles,

"I'm not sure my father would know the difference." Alice followed behind as she picked up the discarded clothing before standing back up to find Blaire sinking into the tub,

"You seem to be in better spirits about the marriage at least, Miss Blaire." Blaire rolled her eyes,

"I cried for two months straight. I had to act normal for a time so that any tears I might shed tomorrow seem shocking... Maybe someone will change their minds and let me stay." Alice nodded silently as Blaire sank slowly underneath the water, blowing bubbles from the bottom of the tub. The last thing she wanted was to marry for anything but love, even worse that she was marrying for a title in another country.

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The following day, Blaire awoke with the same feeling of dread she had awoken with for six months. Only today, it was a devastating sense of dread, almost suffocating. She had dreamed her whole life of a great romance, hoping one day that she would be swept off her feet by a dream of a man. She had hoped for months that someone would come to their senses and call the wedding off, that someone would have sympathy and realize this union was the last thing she wanted. Alas, here she was, waking up on June 6 - the wedding day. Blaire didn't even want to call it her wedding day, as not one thing had been planned or approved by her, but by her mother. It was her mother's wedding day. Blaire rolled over, slamming a feather pillow down on her face and screaming into it. She was interrupted by Alice,

"Good morning, Miss Blaire. I'm sorry to say, it's time for you to get up." Blaire mumbled something unintelligible from under the pillow before throwing it across the room and sitting up,

"What do I have to do for you in order that you agree to sabotage this day? Save me, Alice!" Alice grinned at her, grabbing her hands and pulling her out of bed,

"Unfortunately, I think your mother predicted that you might try to perform a sabotage. She has a hairdresser coming up now that's she threatened not to be persuaded by you." Blaire ripped her hands away with rage before swiping the antique lamp off the side table, causing it to slam against the wall and shatter loudly as she screamed,

"I can't believe she's doing this to me!" Alice moved to clean up the glass as Blaire stormed over to her dressing table and sat down to wait for whomever her mother had convinced to style her hair.

The woman had apparently heard the hysterics from outside the room, because she came in as timid as a mouse,

"Good morning, Miss. My name is Catherine... I'm here to style your hair." Blaire glared at her in the mirror, silently willing her not to come any closer. But Alice stepped in,

"Good morning, Catherine. Miss Blaire is not in the best spirits today. You'd best just start." Blaire turned her icy stare to Alice, who looked away sadly. Hot tears poured down Blaire's cheeks for two hours, as Catherine twisted her hair into an admittedly beautiful style. Once finished, Catherine rushed out of the room quicker than she had entered, as Alice stepped behind Blaire,

"Your hair looks lovely, miss." Blaire didn't look up. She knew her face was red and her eyes were puffy, "You must stop crying, Miss. We have to leave for the church before long. Let me touch up your face." Blaire stopped crying long enough for Alice to sooth some of the tear-induced swelling and apply some light makeup. Finally, it was time for her to dress. By the time her corset was tightened, petticoats and dress were on and fastened, and shoes slipped on, her mother appeared at the door with a tiara and veil,

"My dear you look lovely. I know this is a difficult day for you, but it's what's best." Blaire looked away,

"Best for who?" Ruth ignored the comment as she began to fasten the tiara into Blaire's hair,

"Now, the Duke has lent this for you to wear today. Apparently, this tiara has been worn by every bride for the past seven generations." Blaire stared at it, glittering atop her head as the countless diamonds caught the afternoon sun, before rolling her eyes and looking out the window. Ruth pinned the long, cathedral length veil to the back of the tiara before dropping the front of it over Blaire's face. Ruth smiled at Blaire's image in the mirror,

"The picture of elegance. Now, let's go. We don't want to be late and I just know there will be many people hoping for a glimpse of you." Blaire bit her lip as she exited the room, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall.