Ebony and her Father departed two days after the letter accepting the Duke had been written and sent.
Unanticipated by Ebony, she felt little more than small pangs in her stomach. Was she so helpless to let all of these events simply fall upon her? 

Perhaps her future husband would be handsome, Ebony's hopeful thoughts cut in. She didn't know what was considered handsome by society, but she remembered when she was young, she met another girl in town. She'd shown her a portrait miniature of their brother who had enrolled in the Royal Navy. Ebony had resolutely decided that he was very handsome. She recalled he had a light complexion. She had found the boy's blue eyes very striking at the time. She wouldn't be angry if the Duke looked like that little, delicately painted miniature.

Ebony turned her bright, plaintive eyes to the landscape. Not a tree, hill or wandering traveller outside the carriage window escaped the young woman's notice. She took note of the fact that this was the first time she had been outside of the property of Marsden House since she was ten years old.

When Chatwell had left, the tight grip of Ebony's father grew ever-increasing around her. He nonchalantly restricted Ebony's exposure to the world outside of Marsden house. The more Ebony saw on this trip, the more she felt her nerves heighten. She felt a mix of giddy apprehension and curiosity. The hopeful voice that often accompanies tragic life events softly spoke to Ebony. Perhaps this lot will be better than you imagine. This sentiment offered very little comfort to Ebony's troubled mind.

Ebony observed little fae sometimes flit outside the window. The sun setting cast a golden hue through their magnificent wings. Ebony wished she could paint so she could capture the unusual beauty of these creatures. Looking out the window, the rhythmic thumping of horse hooves lulled Ebony into a light rest. Ebony was startled awake by the sudden jostling of her shoulder and the gruff voice of her father. She stepped out of the carriage and looked around. It seemed that they had arrived at a humble lodge. It was dark out and she couldn't see much more than an outline of the building and the yellow light from the somewhat dirty windows. Ebony followed the swift pace of her father. She clutched her shawl tighter around her to protect herself against the cold night air. She shuddered.

Inside the lodge, she was greeted by a rather irritable woman. She mumbled something to a boy who looked slightly younger than Ebony. The boy nodded and leisurely walked out to their carriage. A moment later, he was inside with their luggage. A few moments after that, Ebony and her father were led to their room.

"The innkeeper says we have about 10 miles before we reach Carleton Hall. We'll reach there by midday if we start early,"  Ebony's father stated. "So you better be up before the sun rises."

Ebony nodded. By midday? That is very soon. Ebony felt some amount of dread at the thought. The almost apathy she had felt when she had started her journey was all but gone. She knew the mix of feelings and thoughts would prevent her from sleeping tonight. Her dark under eyes that had always caused her chagrin would be ever more apparent. Why was she worried about something so inconsequential? She should at least try to sleep.

Ebony had always had trouble sleeping. She'd had pervasive nightmares since childhood. Her little body would lay frozen in fear after being awoken by frightening dreams. Every shadow or silhouette turned ghostly in her troubled mind. If she moved even slightly, the furniture would seem to subtly adjust its position, as if trying not to catch her attention. Perhaps if she closed her eyes...?

Instead of nightmares that night, she was plagued with nerves and giddy dread. She couldn't doze off for a moment without her whirling stomach chasing away her fatigue. How would she proceed once she was married? What was expected of her? She hadn't the slightest concept of marriage besides the name itself. Ebony suddenly felt that she was entering a world that was foreign to anything she'd experienced prior. Ebony felt tears accumulate behind her eyelids.

***

    Having but dozed for less than an hour, Ebony found herself awake and dressing before the sun had yet risen as her father had requested. He; however, was still snoring and in deep sleep. Ebony was worried to even open the door and exit their chamber, so she instead sat on the edge of the bed.

    The room had a small window and Ebony looked out of it. It was too dark to see anything but the slight suggestion of the sun rising and the gradually brightening sky. She spotted fae dart around in the rising sunlight. Their wings glinted in the dusty, yellow hue. Ebony felt some relief at the sight of something familiar.

    Ebony's father rose after his prescribed departure time, the sun being nearly fully risen before they left the inn. Despite the extra sleep, Mr Bostwick's mood didn't seem to be affected. The world itself was an inconvenience to his venerable plans.

    Ebony's anxiety kept her on the verge of tears as they departed towards Carleton Hall. Ebony suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to throw herself out of the moving carriage and run. A careless thought. Where would she go if she did? She was an unfamiliar part of England and who would help her? Ebony had read novels where lascivious villains took advantage of young maidens who were out on their own. Ebony was suddenly reminded of her horrid dream she'd had about the Duke and she was abruptly doused in icy water from head to toe. She knew nothing of men. But suddenly the idea of being with a man seemed grotesque... her stomach was unsettled by the thought.

    An exchange between two young scullery maids was brought to Ebony's recollection.

    "You've just got to endure it," one said

    "Does it really hurt that bad?"

    "Like hell! He just stuffed it in."

    "You mean he didn't do it gentle like?"

    "No. Why would he?"

Ebony shivered and jerked her head to look out the window. She picked up the blanket from the seat opposite of her and draped it around her shoulders like a shawl. She took a shaky breath. She mustn't think too much of what was yet to occur.     

Everything happens in due time. There was a week to get to the true character of the Duke. If he was utterly repulsive, then she'd just have to prepare herself for a life with him. Perhaps the Duke had an extensive library that she'd be able to partake of. Perhaps he had a piano-forte! Ebony felt a slight stir of excitement. Would she get pocket money she'd be able to spend? Was that customary? Certainly the Duke's wealth wouldn't be affected by Ebony buying the occasional ribbon or fabric and thread? Alas, a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

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