Hello my darlings. I would like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, I have changed some of the small Characters relationships for this story, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
The duke of Ravenscliff is pleased to announce the betrothal of his heir, Gabriel Haynes, Marquess of Dare to the Lady Penelope Coburn, daughter of Lord Michael Coburn, Viscount Simmers.
Penny found her eyes running over the short announcement once more. It didn't say much, but then she hadn't expected it to. That was the way Gabriel was, the less it said the more intrigued the ton would be by her that evening. As such the more attention they would receive, and the more young ladies he would meet. The more potential brides would flock to their side with the idea of welcoming her into society, or more truthfully, wanting to size her up, to make sure she had what it took become a duchess. No what surprised her was more her reaction to finally seeing the words in print. To seeing how real her charade had suddenly become. She had been in a bubble for the last few weeks, living with Anne and Chuck, no one having any confirmation that she was who they thought she was. But now they all knew, and they would be watching her every step, waiting for her to slip up so that they could pounce. Oh maybe she was being overly harsh, surely there were some within the ton who wished her nothing more than happiness in her future, but she had found her opinion of the ladies she had met so far, clouding her judgment on the rest. Jading her feelings towards the ones she was going to have to smile at, get to know and be polite to. But she would do it. It was not like the engagement was real, no matter what the Times said about it. She knew the truth of that one, and just thinking that she remembered the papers she had upstairs, locked in her jewellery box, which gave her more than enough reason to rise above all the words and snide remarks that would come her way. The papers that said that once the season was done, she would have all she ever wanted and more for her and her sisters. But even reminding herself of that fact did not stop her eyes running over the announcement once more, trying to figure out exactly what it was she was feeling seeing those words. Trying to work out exactly why they caused such… emotion inside her.
"It makes it real, doesn't it?" Came a calming voice next to her, causing her to turn and see the duchess sitting down at her side. She had been so engrossed with her own thoughts she had not even noticed Anne joining her in the breakfast room.
"Indeed it does. I just hope I can live up to the expectations of the ton." Penny replied putting the Times down in favour of taking a sip of her tea.
"You do not need to worry about that Penny. They will take one look at Gabriel and you together, and they will know without doubt that it is a love match. After that, you can set your own expectations. No one will wish to alienate the future Duchess of Ravenscliff after all." Anne answered with breezy assurance. She knew that the lady at her side had nothing to fear. Knew that even if she was not engaged to her son, Lady Penelope Coburn had what it would take to make society sit up and take notice. She was perfect, not just for Gabriel, but as her replacement when the time came.
"Anne." Penny responded with friendly exasperation in her tone. It was not the first time the duchess had pronounced the fact her and Gabriel were in love. And while she knew that was what the Marquess wanted everyone to know, she wasn't sure how she felt about how they could fool the duchess so easily.
"What? Oh come now, you know I am right. Just as I know they will love you as they do my son. They will take you to their hearts you have nothing to fear." Anne reassured in a gentle tone, closing her hand over Penny's briefly before moving to carry on building her plate of food.
Nothing except when the time came to end the engagement, Penny thought to herself before pushing those things from her mind. She was here to do a job, she needed to make sure she did it to the best of her ability this evening. It was what Gabriel was paying her for after all. So instead she turned to the duchess to ask her help in choosing which gown to wear to the ball that evening, as well as asking her some of the finer points on etiquette. She needed to make the best impression on the world she was about to enter, and who better to teach her than one who was grand dame of it all?
Gabriel sat in the breakfast room, a cup of tea in one hand and the Times in the other. He read over the announcement for the fourth time and wondered yet again if he should have put in more. Too late to change it now, and he had wanted the ton to make up its own mind about Penny when they met her, and not a minute before. He wanted her to success on her own merit, so that when the time came, she would still have standing among the ladies in society. He did not want her to become a diamond of the first water just because she was on his arm. No for his plan to work, he needed her to be able to stand upon her own two feet. To face the grand dames with her head held high. He knew she could do it, knew she would be able to win them over without thought… but that did not stop the worry. Because this was something he had decided she would need to do without his help, his support, of course would be freely given, but his help… that she needed to do without. For now, at any rate.
"Don't tell me you are having second thoughts." Said Castiel interrupting Gabriel's brooding. It was the only reason he could think of for the frown upon his happy-go-luckily brother's face.
"No. Just realising how real it really is, now it is in print." Gabriel responded putting down the paper and turning to his brother, talking honestly to him as he always would.
"It is, as it always has been, as real as you want it to be, brother." Castiel replied enigmatically smiling at how his words caused Gabriel to roll his eyes. It seemed he had yet to realise his true feelings for the lady he had just told the whole world he was planning to marry. But there was time for Gabriel to see the truth. A whole season of it in fact.
Before Gabriel could answer Castiel's words, the Winchesters joined them, Dean taking up the Times and reading the announcement. Then without saying a word he past it to Sam, delving into the food as he could give a valid reason for not saying anything to his host.
"Congratulations, Gabriel." Sam said reading through the announcement and smiling at the Marquess with a knowing look. Someone needed to get him used to hearing the words, even if all those in the room knew that it was a fake, and that Lady Penelope would not be marrying Gabriel at the end of the season. They all needed to pretend after all. That was why they were there, to give support to the one whose brother had saved their lives, well more Dean and Castiel's lives, but that just made Sam even surer of the debt he owed the lady. He could do nothing himself to help her, but he would support the one that could with everything he had.
Lady Charlie Baum, formerly Haynes, squealed loudly when she opened the announcement page of the Times and read about her brother's engagement. Things had happened which had delayed her return to town until the previous day, and as such she had yet to catch up with her mother, or meet the guests she had staying in her home. Her mother had of course hinted about why she had the Coburn ladies staying, but this was the first confirmation she had received that Gabriel had indeed finally decided to settle down. She couldn't wait to meet the Lady that had caught him.
The sound from the countess's lips caused her sister-in-law Dorothy to turn to her with a raised eyebrow, while her husband looked up from his breakfast with an indulgent smile. He loved his wife dearly and found her quirks all the more endearing because of it. Though the fact he had married his sisters best friend was not lost on him when it was Dorothy and not himself who spoke.
"What is it Charlie, has there been some terrible scandal that we missed?" Dorothy asked her eyes twinkling at the idea. Who didn't love a good scandal after all?
"My brother is engaged." Charlie announced putting the paper down as she beamed at the other two in the room.
"Castiel?" Dorothy asked almost chocking on her chocolate at the idea of that aloof man ever finding a woman who wanted to be with him. It did not even cross her mind that it was the other brother Charlie was talking about. Everyone knew of Gabriel's aversion to marriage, and she had heard in depth about how he had ran from the Christmas celebrations to avoid talking about it.
"No, Gabriel." Charlie replied with a shake of her head. She wasn't sure she could ever see Castiel marrying. He had been through so much, seen too much, to ever settle down in her mind. But that did not matter now Gabriel was engaged. The dukedom would continue through him and this lady Penelope. Castiel would be let off the hook as second in line.
"And whom is the Marquess marrying, my love?" Frank, the earl of Claymore asked his wife. He had heard rumours, from his friends and mother-in-law's letters, but he refused to put any stock in any of it until it was announced in the Times. He was not one to listen to gossip, which was a complete contrast to his wife. But that was one of the reasons they were so perfect together.
"Lady Penelope Coburn, daughter of Viscount Simmers." Charlie responded quickly reading the words that were written in the paper.
"Is that the former one, or the current?" Frank asked intrigued now despite himself. He knew the older viscount had died, and he knew he had children other than his heir James. The new viscount he knew little about.
"Former. Her brother was the one who gave his life for Castiel. Maybe that was how they met? That is so romantic, Gabriel going to thank her for her family's sacrifice only to fall in love with her…" Charlie replied remembering what her mother had told her in her letters. Her very active imagination was already conjuring a scene of Gabriel and Penelope walking together in the weak winter sun, falling in love as if it was spring. Which everyone knew was the season for lovers.
"You do not know it is a love match, Charlie." Dorothy said interrupting her thoughts, though her words made Charlie scoff. As if it could be anything else? This was Gabriel they were talking about after all.
"Of course it is. I am sure only the deepest love would ever induce Gabriel to marry. I can't wait to meet her this evening at the ball." She answered her eyes gleaming as ideas came to her at how she could create the best scene to welcome her newest soon-to-be sister into her family. Oh yes, she couldn't wait until that evening, and in her excitement she almost forgot her own news. The reason for her delay in returning to town, though her stomach soon twinged reminding her. Hmm, who knew being with child met so much time with one's head over the chamber pot while her sister-in-law held back her hair? Would this uncomfortableness never end?
