Chapter 25
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Chapter 26: Interested in a Marriage for Appearance?
Classie felt her mind go completely blank. She wondered if a more uninspiring marriage proposal had ever been uttered in human history. To her, it sounded less like a romantic offer and more like a cold commercial transaction.
She pressed her palm against her forehead.
Silence stretched between them. When Classie finally let out a strained, awkward sound, Dernick jumped back into his pitch with the fervor of a determined salesman.
He urged her to consider the logic. A union would resolve every one of their hurdles. By wedded law, he would secure his family’s wealth, and she would be guaranteed her own inheritance.
He argued that their outlooks on life were perfectly aligned, making a partnership quite tolerable. In his view, neither of them were the sort to become obsessed with a single partner. He shuddered at the thought of being tethered to someone traditional and rigid. It would be miserable to marry for money only to be burdened with the expectation of eternal devotion. He described such a life as utterly draining and monotonous.
Panic seized Classie, leaving her unable to find the right words. In truth, the concept of a marriage of convenience had crossed her mind on occasion.
However, those were fleeting daydreams, never plans she intended to execute. The dangers were too high; there was no way to predict when a partner might have a change of heart. Such arrangements were fraught with peril.
Safety in such a deal required a partner of such high integrity that they wouldn’t dream of betrayal, yet someone that perfect would likely never trust Classie in return.
Because of those complications, she had dismissed the idea long ago. Now, Dernick was reviving it so abruptly that her head began to throb.
She wasn’t actually considering his offer. Rather, the shear audacity of his logic felt like physical strikes against her skull.
She questioned him on exactly how their perspectives were supposed to be similar.
Dernick answered as if the conclusion were self-evident. He claimed they were both fickle and superficial.
Insulted, Classie tightened her grip on her water glass. She snapped back that they were nothing of the sort.
When he looked surprised, she doubled down, insisting she had no idea where he got such a notion, but she certainly wasn’t a shallow person.
Dernick reminded her of what she had said to that stiff gentleman—that if feelings were destined to shift, the timeline didn’t matter, whether it was a year or a single day.
She realized she might have uttered something to that effect, but hearing it repeated in his voice made it sound incredibly flippant. Classie ground her teeth while holding her head.
She tried to explain that she had been discussing the nature of a broken heart.
Dernick nodded, claiming he understood. Still, he insisted that Classie was prone to moving on quickly, just as he was, whereas most people lacked that flexibility.
Classie knew that anyone would become an expert at letting go if they had been rejected as often as she had over the years. However, she kept that to herself. She saw no reason to confess her lifetime of romantic failures to him.
Instead, she offered a blunt refusal. She told him he could think whatever he liked, but she had zero interest in a contractual wedding with him.
When he demanded to know why, she informed him there were two specific reasons.
Dernick’s expression turned grave, his curiosity clearly piqued.
Classie wavered. Her primary objection involved Merran, and her secondary concern was her total lack of faith in Dernick’s character.
Since both points were far too delicate to voice, Classie retreated from a direct answer. She told him they were both classified information.
Dernick complained about being left in suspense, but Classie kept her mouth shut and shook her head with finality.
Despite his repeated attempts to bring up the arrangement again, Classie didn’t budge.
Florence eventually returned and watched the two of them with a satisfied grin, searching for any signs of romantic movement that might have occurred in her absence.
Classie shot her friend a sharp look, while Dernick simply went back to his meal with total composure.
Finding the air devoid of any romance, Florence let out a dejected moan and sank into her seat.
Once the meal concluded, Dernick departed, leaving Classie to spend the rest of the day at Florence’s estate.
They spent the afternoon resting and sharing stories of their younger years. After a comforting evening meal, Classie felt enough strength return to her legs to move.
To ensure her friend reached home safely, Florence provided a small carriage.
Anna, the maid, nearly fainted from the shock of seeing Classie step out of the vehicle leaning on a walking stick.
Merran helped Classie inside, grumbling the whole way. She complained that Classie’s friend was incredibly thoughtless for dragging her around when she knew Classie shouldn’t overexert herself.
Classie told them both to be quiet, insisting she’d had a lovely time. She tapped her cane against the floor and waved goodbye to the departing driver.
It took a great deal of restraint for Classie not to ask Merran if things were truly going well between her and Dernick.
Once the fuss from Anna and Merran subsided and she was finally alone, Classie leaned her chin on the windowsill. She stared out into the dark, reevaluating Dernick’s arrogant proposal.
She wondered why he viewed her as being just like him. More importantly, she questioned his true feelings for Merran. Her niece was popular and certainly wouldn’t miss it if a man were interested in her. Why was Dernick behaving this way? If he truly possessed the feelings Merran claimed he had, he never would have suggested a business marriage to her aunt. The whole situation felt wrong.
On the initial day of her illness, Merran had refused to leave Classie’s side. Despite being a constant source of frustration, the girl always became genuinely frightened whenever Classie’s health faltered.
Even though she could walk, Classie remained indoors for several days to recover her stamina. During that time, Florence sent three massive baskets of fruit via her own staff.
When they finally met again, Florence pretended to weep with relief as she helped Classie down from her carriage, saying she’d been terrified that she was the cause of the illness.
Classie told her to stop the act, explaining that her own physical weakness was to blame, not her friend.
Florence pivoted, accusing Classie of being cruel for fleeing that day. She teased that the whole story about needing a radish was just a transparent ruse to escape.
She insisted that the two of them looked incredibly compatible.
Classie barked back that there was absolutely nothing between them.
Florence didn’t believe her for a second. She leaned in close, whispering into Classie’s ear with a triumphant smirk. She pointed out that the man had even proposed, which proved there was a connection.
Classie realized her friend had been listening in and accused her of eavesdropping.
Florence just laughed, threw her hat aside, and bolted. They chased each other around for a bit before finally settling on a bench to share some cold lemonade.
However, Florence had a real reason for her visit beyond mere teasing.
She mentioned the massive New Year’s Festival held in the capital, noting it lasted for two full days.
Classie nodded, remembering how her eldest sister and her husband attended frequently. In fact, they used to leave Merran in her care every year just so they could go.
Her parents were also regulars on the guest list, though they usually spent their New Years at celebrations in other countries.
Florence beamed as she announced she had received an invitation this year.
Classie offered her genuine congratulations, knowing how prestigious and vibrant the event was. She assumed Florence was just sharing her excitement, but the other woman gave her a gentle nudge.
Florence explained that it wasn’t just about boasting. She noted that the high-ranking nobility often threw their own exclusive parties during the transition into the New Year.
She produced a stunning invitation, shimmering with gold and silver accents.
She handed it over, explaining it was for the Duke of Siwill’s year-end celebration. She admitted she was lucky to get it, but because it was a single-person invitation, she wouldn’t be able to accompany Classie.
Classie was too stunned to even reach for the card. She told Florence she couldn’t take it, insisting that Florence should go herself to build social ties since she was new to the area. She didn’t want the guilt of taking such an opportunity from her friend.
Florence looked away, her expression turning slightly forced as she insisted she was giving it away simply because she was in a position to do so.
Classie was confused by the phrasing and tried to dig deeper.
Florence dodged the question, patting Classie’s leg to end the discussion. She told Classie to just take the invitation and warned her not to let Merran snatch this one away.
