Viscount (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

15

The weeks seemed to fly past as Sarah had Jocelyn caught up in wedding planning and more. She had invited her soon to be daughter in law to stay at their residence in town rather than be scorned at through the eyes of Peggy. At first Jocelyn had declined, but soon realised perhaps it was for the best. It seemed as though she was no longer welcome at her Aunt and Uncle's residence.

The Dowager Viscountess was back and forth between the town and Brooklyn House, and soon enough the wedding was looming - just days away.

Jocelyn came down to the parlour one morning, hearing hushed voices and quietly listening in by the doorway. 

"So you are going then?"

"After the wedding, yes - but it won't be for too long".

"A year is long enough".

"And I'm not asking you to wait..."

The voices belonged to Hattie and Micheal - and now Jocelyn realised that everything seemed to add up. Especially seeing as back at Brooklyn House, her cousin would disappear for a few hours. She wondered just how long this had been going on? Long enough so it seemed. 

"Please, just go - I'm not expecting you to return and not have a fiancée in tow. Your parents would never agree to a match like ours". Hattie stated.

"They'd never have to know until it was done". Micheal countered.

Silence followed before Hattie broke it. "You need to leave before your cousin or the Dowager wake to find you here. It was risky calling this early".

"I'd risk everything for you..."

"Please, Michael don't. I will see you at the wedding but then that will be it. We'll simply just be strangers to one another and you can live your life how it's meant to be - marrying a woman of your rank and inheriting what is yours".

"Come with me". Jocelyn held her breath. She'd never heard her cousin sound so desperate. "Come with me, away from here. We can travel together, elope. If you really think I care about what my parents think then you're wrong".

Hattie's voice was small. "I cannot leave her...she needs me".

They were talking about her. Jocelyn wanted to just walk in and tell her that she didn't matter. She would be fine. 

Micheal finally sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to be able to convince her. "Ok..."

"Please, you really do need to leave".

Jocelyn quietly and quickly headed up the staircase, hearing Hattie and Micheal leave parlour. She lingered for a moment of two and then walked back down - her flustered maid walking back through the hall and then looking surprised on seeing her.

"Oh! You're awake early Miss Jocelyn?"

"Couldn't sleep". She replied but decided not to let on that she had heard the conversation that had just gone on. "Besides there's last minute preparations to make before the wedding".

"Yes of course". Hattie calmed herself.

Jocelyn looked at her. "Are you quite alright?" It was clear that she wasn't.

"Yes Miss, like yourself, just a little tired". Hattie smiled, however Jocelyn could now see right through it. "Now, let me get you breakfast".

She watched her maid hurrying off, knowing that if she didn't do something, then both Hattie and Micheal would be living the rest of their days in misery.

**

Jocelyn took one last glance in the mirror at herself, smoothing down her dress yet again, but still not feeling satisfied. 

This was it. 

Today was the day that she would marry the Viscount and finally become his wife. However she felt anything but a bride deserving of her groom and his wealth. Her parents had managed to make it to the wedding, her mother still somewhat ailing, but thankfully was becoming stronger again day by day. 

"Look at you, my beautiful girl - I told you that staying with your Aunt and Uncle would land you a husband". Her mother now fussed. "And a Viscount? You couldn't have done better than that my dear". 

"It was Peggy that was intended for him. Not me". 

"And yet he chose you, just like everyone else has said. You'll be the talk of society". 

"And yet I do not want to be, but I already fear I am being painted in the wrong light". 

"Gossips will gossip, but that's all it is. Just talk that will soon grow old until they find someone else to speak of. You have the husband that they and their daughters wanted. Their gossip thrives upon jealousy. I should know, when I married your father I was the subject of it myself". 

Jocelyn looked at her mother. "And how did you handle it?" 

"With dignity, and pride. I simply held my head high and didn't let them get the best of me". 

"It's a little hard when you've been stood on the sidelines all that time and then suddenly it's announced that you are to marry the Viscount. I like him, and I believe that he likes me too, but love? I'm not sure whether he would go that far as to feel that for me".  Despite their moment in her room, Steve had remained a gentleman to her. Although Jocelyn would admit that after he had left, she had gone to bed and did as he'd asked, thinking of him as she had shamelessly explored her body. 

Only now her mind wandered to what would happen that evening, and it scared her more than anything. She didn't want to discuss it with her mother, no matter how much she should. Besides their wasn't time, because now her father had walked into the room. "It's time to go Joss, are you ready?" 

"Yes". 

No. 

Not she wasn't. She hadn't felt 'ready' ever since they'd sent her to town to find a husband - and now she had? Suddenly everything began to hit her all at once. The responsibility, the duty of being a good wife. Could she? Could she make him happy? 

He'd need an heir...

"Could you give me a moment?" She asked as her parents nodded and waited outside the door for her. 

Jocelyn braced herself against the vanity, nausea rising. "You can do this. You can be his wife. You can show everyone that they were wrong...no you can't..." she groaned and took a few deep breaths. If she left him at the alter then she'd be hated by everyone, a chance of a good life and opportunity wasted. 

She would never do that. 

Finally she gathered her courage and opened the door, looking at her parents. "I'm ready".