Antoinette could not sleep all night. All she could think about was when Duke Perry would reveal his new status to her parents. She lay in bed listening to the wind howl outside and wondering how deep the snow would fall, whether Duke Perry might end up trapped in his house by a snowdrift, forcing her to delay the revelation even further. Or perhaps the cold would mean he'd take ill, or slip on the ice, and then... Then what could she do? She could not bear that.

Morning took forever to arrive. As soon as the sun shone in through her window Antoinette got up, put on one of her best dresses and her makeup, and made her way downstairs, where she impatiently paced the front room, always peering out the window, hoping Duke Perry would arrive before breakfast.

Fortunately, he did, and as they all sat in the front room Antoinette could feel the tension building up in her as she waited for Duke Perry to finish explaining the circumstances.

“And so,” Duke Perry concluded with a deep breath, “although it is unorthodox I would very much like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage. Knowing that this would sever her engagement to Duke Godwin.”

Silence fell. Lady Byrd was staring as though she had seen a ghost. Lord Byrd looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She shook her head in disbelief, then cast her husband a sagely nod.

“We must tell Duke Godwin,” Lady Byrd finally said.

“You mean to say that—” Antoinette began, but her father immediately interrupted her.

“Yes, you have our blessing.”

Antoinette forced the scream of delight to stop itself before it erupted, instead, she bit down on her cheek hard as her father and Duke Perry shook hands. They began talking about wedding arrangements.

Her eyes locked with her mother's, who, seemingly understanding the waves of pure energy Antoinette was experiencing, nodded towards the door. “Go on, get some fresh air.”

Antoinette felt a little better once she was standing out in the front garden with the cold air on her face and the crunchy snow underfoot.

But the peace was not to last long. A flurry of skirts, dark hair, and seemingly pure rage whirled its way up through the snow so fast Antoinette worried a spirit had made its way to their home.

“Antoinette!” it exclaimed.

It was Lucy.

“I... I cannot believe this!” she exclaimed.

Antoinette shook her head. “Are you...” And then it dawned on her. “He told you already?”

“Yes! How could you? How could he?” Lucy shook her head. “He was my true love!”

Antoinette sighed and looked away. “I cannot, right now, excuse or explain what is happening. But please, be assured that harming you was the furthest thing from my intentions.”

Lucy looked Antoinette up and down, then shook her head. “Well... you have.”

Antoinette nodded. “And I understand that but... it was not meant to be. And Duke Perry and I were. I can only hope that some day you will be able to see that and forgive me.”

Lucy shook her head again, eyes full of tears. “I have already forgiven you, Antoinette. You did not lie to me. You attempted to help me, and him, despite it hurting your heart. I... I am thankful for that. And I do not blame you for wanting such a man to yourself. But... I shall never forgive him. And because of that I shall lose you both. Goodbye, Antoinette.”

Before Antoinette could reply with anything, Lucy disappeared as quickly and ethereally as she had appeared.

Antoinette felt her heartache so deeply for her friend. On the one hand she knew that Duke Perry was meant for her and her alone. But on the other hand she understood Lucy's broken heart, and her desire to never see Duke Perry again. Her friend, rightly, felt used and did not want to see him ever again. Which would mean never seeing Antoinette ever again. And it was tearing her heart in two. She never meant to hurt Lucy...

But she also knew that she could not hurt herself. Or Duke Perry. She could not deny herself the marriage of her dreams and force the man of her dreams to marry someone else. All she could do was live her life as best she could, reach for happiness, and hope that her friend would come to accept the outcome of their collective decisions.

Just as Antoinette believed she was free of the stress and conflict, two figures appeared at the bottom of the garden path. The first was the messenger her father had just sent to Duke Godwin, the second was Duke Godwin.

From his stance and stride, Antoinette feared that she would be confronted by an angry man. She began to make her way indoors, knowing full well how powerful Duke Godwin was when he had been angered. But as she caught a glimpse of his face, she saw not rage... but despair.

Turning around on the spot, she locked eyes with him.

“Please, Antoinette,” I beg of you...” he gasped as soon as she was within earshot. “Do not do this... we are meant to be...”

Antoinette shook her head. “We are not.”

“But you are perfect for me, simply perfect,” he replied.

She shook her head yet again. “Duke Godwin... you fell in love with the version of me you wanted to see. Not who I was, or who I will ever be, but an ideal. And I am nothing like that. I am not quiet, or pleasant, or polite. I am... I am difficult, and a rebel, and probably not altogether ladylike.”

Duke Godwin hesitated. “But... that was what I liked about you.”

Antoinette blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“Do you think I did not know? That I did not see you saying one thing and doing the other? All my life women have bowed down before me. I say something belittling of their sex and they strive to meet that ideal. I say having your hair too low is immodest and they wear it high up, I say that women ought not read and they dispose of their books...” Duke Godwin made eye contact with her, and reached for her hand, which she quickly retreated. “In public you would not so politely and agree... Yet you never acted on a single thing I said. You rebelled. You disobeyed me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a woman with a mind of her own, who will disobey even a Duke?”

“Wait... so you wish for me to disobey you?” Antoinette asked.

Duke Godwin nodded. “At least in private. I must maintain my image in public, I am sure you understand. But I need a woman who will betray me, disobey me, tell me what she truly thinks from time to time, does as she pleases, not lean on me... I require a woman as fierce and independent as a lioness, that I may continue to live the life of a lion.”

“The life of a lion?” Antoinette was even more lost.

“Lions...” Duke Godwin began, searching for the right words in his mind before continuing. “In a pride of lions there is a male and several females, one of which is his wife and bears his cubs. The women do the hunting of their own accord, and bring him back meat to eat. The lion himself lives a life of luxury, not needing to tell his women what he wants from them every five minutes. I would like to be the lion, and you my lioness.”

Antoinette shook her head slowly again. “I suppose in that case I might be the perfect woman for you. But you are not the perfect man for me.”

Duke Godwin drew a deep breath. “I see,” he said. He looked at his feet a few seconds. “I shall see you again some time, I hope.” He turned around and left. He was trying to remain calm, but Antoinette spied a tear on his cheek.

She decided to go indoors before someone else arrived to shout at her on her own doorstep.

“I cannot do this...” Antoinette sighed, collapsing into her chair. “I cannot face all that society and those around me will cast upon me for my decision.”

“You already have,” Lady Byrd replied.

“But I have not!” Antoinette exclaimed. “I must do it again, and again, and again. To every person, every time I am confronted, I must explain and justify my actions, my emotions, my life!”

“As do we all,” Lady Byrd replied. “You cannot please everyone.”

Antoinette was about to reply, but shut her mouth and thought it over again. Her mother was right. She did not like it. But her mother was right. Somehow, that made it all feel much better.

* * *

The wedding was planned to be on New Year's Day, to give everyone time to recover from the shock. It was cold, the ground was covered in snow around the church, and fake flowers adorned the pews, a stunning array of rainbow splatters in contrast with the white and grey outside. Despite the time of year, the sun shone brightly that day, glistening off the fresh snow and inviting out the few animals which were not hibernating.

Carriages arrived one after the other and people spilled out, prepared to attend the wedding and congratulate the new Duke of Devonshire not only on his title, but on his marriage and complete life overhaul. Antoinette did not yet know many of these people, but she was sure she would come to know them well as Duchess of Devonshire.

Antoinette, never a traditional girl, had chosen a shining golden dress for her wedding dress, as opposed to the usual pale pastel colours. The dress shone brightly in the light. Her mother had protested that it seemed a little vain, but nearer the day the complaints had ceased. Lady Byrd, not wanting to ruin her daughter's big day, had given up on persuading her to choose something more traditional and reserved. And Antoinette was glad of this.

She really felt like an angel as she began to walk down the aisle, holding her father's arm and looking to the left and to the right. Duke Perry did not have many living relatives, but she was surprised to see how many of his friends, new and old, had appeared. Down his pews she could see people from every social group, a testimony to the life he had led.

Down her side she could see mostly family, a few friends of her parents', and many of her childhood friends. She felt her heart sink a little as she remembered that Lucy, Duke Godwin, and even Cecilia had turned down the invitations to her wedding. Lucy and Duke Godwin she understood, but she had not expected Cecilia to be missing.

But today was not a day to be sad. Because... she looked up the aisle where her husband to be waited, an expression of pure bliss on his face. Duke Perry looked ravishing. His suit was tailored and well kept. His skin and hair looked much better than they had done since she first met him. And without constant stress, he seemed somehow stronger, taller, bolder than before. Still, he smiled as sweetly as he did the first time they encountered.

The ritual did not concern Antoinette so much as the day did. The vows and rites passed almost as a hum in the back of her mind as she instead focused all her attention on her handsome groom. He, on the other hand, was listening intently. As they held hands, she felt his shaking nervously. He really was such a perfect man for her. Handsome, witty, intelligent, and yet sensitive, loving, friendly...

Looking into his eyes, she knew he was the right one. Fate had chosen after all. And it had chosen so well.

His hand rested gently on her hip and he drew her in, their lips locking to seal their wedding vows.

* * *