a deGrey Addition

[Lucian deGrey]

After convincing Anne to hold a family dinner (though it didn’t take much convincing), Lucian sent rather vague and cryptic messages to his brothers, requesting that they meet for dinner. Although she was suspicious of her son’s request, Anne was just happy to have a reason to get her sons together in one room. Lucian had only told her that he had some news to share and he wanted everyone to be together in order to tell it.

He had only just proposed to Anemone less than two days ago--hardly enough time to fully process what was happening. But here they were, about to tell his family that they were engaged and planning to marry as soon as possible. No pressure. This wasn’t crazy at all, right?

Lucian walked silently down the halls towards the wing of the castle that his mother resided in. It was a bit obvious he was nervous in the way he would occasionally squeeze Anemone’s arm against his ribs as they walked together. Every so often, his lips would part and he’d inhale as if about to say something, but nothing came out.

As they came to a door, he suddenly stopped and turned to face Anemone, offering her a gentle smile. “Here we are,” he said lightly as if trying to shake his own nerves. “It will be fine,” he said, though his words weren’t just to assure her.

Once Anemone indicated she was ready, he opened the door and held it open for her. He half expected to see his mother there, impatiently waiting--but no one was in the room except for the servants who were still preparing the table with everything.

Lucian wasn’t sure if he should be relieved that they had arrived before everyone else, or nervous that they would enter and immediately see Anemone there, like a giant question mark out on display. “I suppose we are early,” he shrugged his shoulders and led Anemone to the table, nodding to the servants before he pulled out a chair for her.

Once she was seated, he took the seat next to her and gently squeezed her hand, releasing a breath as he spoke, “so now we wait…”


Anemone Sellar, William deGrey, Triston deGrey, Wesley deGrey

[Anemone Sellar]

Anemone held tightly to Lucian's arm as they headed down the hall and silently reminded herself to keep her head held high. She could do this. She wasn't alone. Lucian would support her, whatever happened. They truly did care about each other, even if things were moving along at a breakneck pace.

As they came to a door, he suddenly stopped and turned to face Anemone, offering her a gentle smile. “Here we are,” he said lightly as if trying to shake his own nerves. “It will be fine,” he said, though his words weren’t just to assure her.

Anemone gave him a terrified grin and nodded.

He opened the door and held it for her, letting her in first, and she nearly took a step backward instead of forward! Apparently, the little butterflies in her stomach were a bit bigger than she'd realized. She was terrified! What if Anne de Grey decided that her son was too good to be marrying some foolish little girl like Anemone? What if they all thought she was an airhead? What if--

A tiny voice that sounded suspiciously like Lucian's in the back of her mind interrupted. "What if it all goes perfectly, and they adore you?"

The thought made Anemone chuckle to herself as she drifted through the room, leaning to smell the bouquet of snowdrops that adorned the table.

"I suppose we are early" Lucian commented, bringing her gaze back to him. She smiled and nodded.

"Better early than late, hm? I want to make a good impression," she answered, hurrying a little to take the seat he'd pulled out for her.

She was glad he took her hand to hold it, or else she'd be picking at her nails already. She was just getting more nervous with every second closer to this reveal. She was happy about her engagement, and she truly believed Lucian was too, but she couldn't help thinking they might be the only ones…

She rolled her shoulders a little and sat up in her seat. "Now we wait," she confirmed, lightly squeezing his hand in return before lacing her fingers through his.