Celine paced through her bed chamber. Her head ached and her feet were about to create a path of footprints on the gold carpet. Rodger sat with his arms hugging a bed post as he watched her, wondering why on earth she was wearing her white, plain slip instead of one of the fancier ones in her wardrobe. If a person is going to be alive they might as well live flamboyantly and fashionably. Sadly Celi never saw his way. His frown went unnoticed.

    Eventually he had had enough of puzzling over her drab clothing choices an whined, "You are making me dizzy."

   "I am dizzy."

  Rodger grinned rakishly. "Are you pregnant?"

   Celi tripped over a chair and tumbled ungracefully to  the ground, blushing.

  "Rodger!" She scolded.

  He began laughing. "Well that tells me all I need to know. You two haven't done anything yet."

   "RODGER!"

   "If you need any advice or have questions about the wedding night, just ask." He winked.

   "Rodger."

    But Celi was too embarrassed to come up with a witty retort. She sank onto the floor and groaned.

   She di have questions. Just... not concerning what Rodger had in mind.

   "Am I pretty?" She asked suddenly, taking her face out of the carpet. She couldn't suffocate very easily with that material either way.

   "Yes. Stunning."

  "No. Would you be attracted to me if you liked women?"

  "How does a ma answer that when it is his best friend who is the asker, and might kill him if he says no, and when said man is partial to his own sex? Yes, I think. Why? You haven't had a secret passion for me this past decade, have you?"

   "No. But... what have I to keep him?"

   "You."

   At that very moment a few taps came from the door.

  "Come in Erik!" Rodger called as Celi groaned again.

   Why now? Why?

   She slammed her fist on the floor just as the door creaked open, its old hinges sounding rustier then her soprano's moans of woe.

   "Hello -" Erik paused and looked between Rodger, sitting calmly on the bed and Celi, lying on the ground. "I know I shouldn't be surprised so someone tell me why I still am?"

  "That's my cue. Goodnight Maskie and remember my offer Cell. I have answers."

  He dodged the table Celi pushed at him and closed the door behind him.

  Erik kneeled down. "Are you okay."

  The sigh he received in answer made him smile. He helped her to her feet and promptly pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her waist.

   "I love you. Are you nervous about Tuesday?"

  "No. Two days is nothing. One day, the day before our wedding - tomorrow, that's when I'll have a fit."

    He chuckled, pressing his lips to her hair. "Two days. And then you'll be mine and I will be yours."

   "We aren't the other's already?"

  "Let me rephrase. Legally, in two days my statement will hold true."

   His hand dragged the hair from her shoulder and he began kissing down her neck.

   His hot hands on her body suddenly reminded her of the thing he had noticed from the moment he had walked in the room: she was only wearing her slip. His spread fingers were separated from her skin by just a thin piece of fabric.

   The blood drained from Celi's face and she pushed him away, hard.

   "What-"

   "Go get Nora," she said, her own arms wrapping around her torso as she closed in on herself lik she always did when she was distressed.

   "What?"

  "Go get Nora!" Tears welled in her eys, swimming in their pools of uncertainty and fear.

   She grabbed a dressing gown and covered herself. He couldn't see her... not yet. She couldn't face his rejection yet.

   Erik sprinted from the room to the banister of the stairs. He threw his voice down to just outside the dining room door.

   "Nora!"

   A moment later the good woman appeared, utter puzzlement on her face at the sight of him on the second story when less then a minute ago she'd heard his voice so clearly. (She and George did nor yet know of his tricks, only that at times he seemed to pop out of the woodwork.)

   "Please hurry, Celi needs you."

   Nora, having expected this time to come for a while smiles and chuckled and took her sweet time coming up the stairs.

    "What a silly pair you two are." She shook her head a wagged a finger at him. "You get to bed. Celi is just fine. Fine and fitter then a pickle."

      She went right into her daughter's room of torture and grievance.

                            🌹

   Nora was unable to have children. This condition was learned of when she was just twenty-two. After eight miscarriages George finally put his foot down and insisted that they would not try anymore - a child was not worth losing her when she was all he needed, cruel aa it sounded. Nora had been told bu the town doctor that she could easily bare children. Needless to say she went for a second opinion and found a better doctor and sadder news.

    Celi was their daughter no matter what. Blood meant nothing. They loved her even as their families and friends frowned at their taking in a bastard.

   Nora and George loved their daughter. And Celi knew they felt no difference then if she had been born theirs. But she knew how much pain Nora went through with her miscarriages. She knew how seeing her hurt injured George, knowing he was on th other end of each failed pregnancy. She knew they both wanted a child even after they stopped trying. However their losses made them stronger, as did the event of finding her, Celine. But such circumstances could have torn another couple apart.

   Celi scrutinised Nora. Her fading gray hair was elegantly styled and sat high on her head. Her cheerful round face smiled softly with the wisdom and secrets of the situation that Celi did not realize she was fully aware of.

   "Nora, I'm scared."

   Nora chuckled. "Every bride is a little scared of her weddin' night."

  "Not for that reason."

   She sank down into an armchair. "I'm so twisted underneath my clothes. What if... he might not want to marry a woman who is as marked as he is."

   "Honey, hasn't he seen what those icky men did when you were little?"

  "Yes. But getting crushed by a carriage left far more damage, and what if... what if because of the accident I can't give him children?"

  "Biscuit, that man loves you more then peanut butter and jam  love each other."

    "But -"

   "Celine Grace Eliabeth Christoux Treacle and soon to be Destler, you open up your listening boxes. He adores you. It might be polite to warn him before hand, but he loves you."

   "Can you call the doctor?"

   "Yes. But... are you not concerned with the other... er... adventures of -"

   "Nora, Rodger and I help George during breeding season. Who do you think chooses the horses and draws up the bloodline charts? George. Rodger and I are the ones putting the steeds together."

  Nora turned pink. "It isn't the same with peopel sugar."

   "Well I should hope not!"

                          🌹

      The doctor was quite confused, believing that he was called to explain matters to his favorite - and the most quizzical -  patient.

    He was quite surprised to find himself to be performing a different procedure entirely.

   When it was done Celi slipped on her dressing gown and waited.

   The old doctor chucked her favorite candy at her from his pocket and grinned a crooked tooth grin.

   "I'd say you're fine. Five percent less of a chance then most women, but fine."

  "And the scars?"

  "You know about that. It hasn't changed."

   Celi looked down. "An extra cance I can't have children, my scar are here forever - and can I even -"

  "Yes, when I warned you about twisting the wrong way I meant it only for ballet."

  "Well then. Can you send in my fiance? I need to give him the bad news."

  "The news isn't that bad," he laughed, stuffing a piece of candy in his own mouth. He winked. "Test out my theory tonight if you want. I'm a modernist."

   Celi wished her bed would eat her as her face turned red.

   Filler chapter. But next is the wedding. And Celi has to have her way, especially when it comes to Erik. And after is the wedding night and one more thing.