In One Night

”Marry me?! ” Zemira yelled at Verona who shushed her, ”I tried to change your fathers mind but he just ordered me to go into the house ”.

Zemira had gone out with Stern who was still unaware about her pregnancy. When she had come back, she had seen Cassian talking to her father. She had asked her mom about it and Verona had told her everything.

”Did you say anything to him? ” Verona asked and Zemira remembered when she had told Cassian that she was going to get rid of the baby. She looked at her mother, ”I did not say anything to him ” she said as she shook her head and tried to walk away from her but Verona held her back.

”Don lie to me! I know you went to meet him. I am the only that supports you in this house, so you better tell me the truth ” Verona said and Zemira tried to walk away again but Verona dragged her back, ”I am on your side, Zemy ”.

Zemira sighed and licked her lips, ”I told him that I was going to get rid of the baby ” Verona let go of her arm and held up her hand against her mouth, ”Why would you do that Zemira?! No man wants to get rid of their baby. Now hes here to claim both you and the baby ” ”What do we do mother? ” Zemira panicked and Verona held her hand, ”Ill try to talk to your father ” she said and hurriedly left the room.

Zemira looked outside her window and saw Cassian leaving. She clenched her skirt in her hands and ran downstairs. Verona and Altair saw her, ”Zemira! ” Verona yelled but Zemira ignored her and ran till she got to Cassian.

Cassian was already on his horse. He had seen her running and so had decided to wait for her and that was when he had heard her name; Zemira, meaning joyous melody, in Hebrew. It kind of suited her?

”Lovely name, my lady ” he said as she got to his horse. She looked back at her parents who were just staring at her then she looked at Cassian and climbed the horse.

”Woah! What…what are you doing? ” he asked alarmed as she sat in front of him. ”Zemira! ” Verona screamed and Zemira looked at her mother, she turned to Cassian who was a little bit flustered at their proximity.

”Can you please ride? ” ”A pregnant lady should not be seen on horse ” he said ”Oh for heavens sake! ” she rolled her eyes and gripped the reins then she slapped it on the horses back. It neighed and galloped away.

”My lady! ” some servants gathered Verona who was feeling faint. Altair just watched the whole drama from the gazebo with interest.

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The brown horse with black spots neighed and started going fast. Too fast. The wind was too much in Zemiras face, making her black curls cover her face. She could not see and the horse was headed for a rock.

Cassian held Zemiras hands which were on the reins and dragged them with force, making the horse stop. Zemira gingerly removed her hands from under his. ”Never try to ride Gerta again ” he growled in her ears.

She looked at him over her shoulder then he looked down at her. Their noses were touching. They were too close. Zemira cleared her throat and faced forward, ”What type of horse is she? ” ”Cross-breed of a mustang and a przewalski. Shes a really wild one. Took me three months to tame her ” he smiled as he rubbed Gerta.

That was the first time Zemira had seen him smile. He usually had a scowl on his face. He had a nice smile.

Cassians smile dropped to his usual scowl when he noticed Zemira staring at him. ”Where to? ” he asked as he gently kicked Gerta who started walking. ”Do you have bourbon at your house? ” she asked.

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”So what was so urgent that you decided to ride a cross-breed of a mustang and a przewalski, with the mad viscount? ” Cassian asked as he got comfortable in his den. Zemira was surprised, ”You know that people call you the mad viscount? ”

”Clever topic change…but yes! I do know people call me the mad viscount ” he said and took a swig from his glass of whiskey. ”Now, back to the question ” he said as he looked at her.

Zemira looked at her cup of tea(Cassian had ordered the his butler, Gertrude to give Zemira a cup of tea instead of the bourbon she had asked for), then at him, ”Why do you want to marry me? ” she asked, not bothering to sugar-coat her words.

”Because you are with my baby ” he said matter-of-factly. ”But we had agreed to get rid of it! ” ”You…had agreed to get rid of it. I want my baby ” ”But I do not want it! Don I have a say concerning this burden I am carrying? ” ”My baby is not a burden! ” Cassian yelled as he got in her face.

”To you it is not. But to me, it is ” Zemira said and Cassian lowered his voice, ”If you kill my baby, Ill make sure you walk in fear throughout your entire life ”. Zemira staggered back then she sighted a knife stuck in an apple.

She grabbed it and brought it down to her belly but before it could pierce into her gut, a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked up and saw Cassian holding unto her wrist firmly. His eyes bloodshot.

He turned to her, ”You will do no such thing ” he said calmly, but it was very visible on his face that he was irked. He squeezed her wrist then the knife fell, clattering on the floor.

She snatched her wrist away from his grip then he looked at her, ”Get ready…we shall get married on the fourteenth of next month and then we will— ” Zemira spat on his face, ”I will never marry you! ” she said bitterly.

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”Have you heard? ” ”The marquis daughter, Lady Zemira Cobain is getting married to the mad viscount ” ”My daughter works at the marquis mansion and she told me that the young lady is pregnant with the mad viscounts child ” ”Impossible! If Zemira was pregnant, it would be for the dukes son, Stern ”. ”I heard that Stern has eloped with an innkeepers daughter ” some women gossipped.

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Verona entered Zemiras room and all the servants walked out. Verona walked to the vanity where Zemira sat. She dropped the chest she was holding then she opened it and brought out a hair accessory; it had a floral pattern and few pearls. Verona slid it into Zemiras black curly bun and smiled, ”You look beautiful ”.

Zemira gave a fake smile and Verona took the white laced veil and wore it on her. ”Shall we? ” Verona asked and Zemira looked at her, ”I will be down shortly ” she said and Verona nodded then she hugged her, ”Come soon ” she said and left.

Zemira looked at herself in the mirror. How had it come to this? She broke into tears, soiling her makeup. Verona had heard someone talking about Zemira being pregnant. She had also heard someone say that it was Cassians baby because he had seen them riding together on Cassians horse.

Verona had told Altair and he had spoken to Zemira. What he had told her had made her change her mind about not marrying Cassian.

So here she was in her wedding dress, on her wedding day. Everybody downstairs were all smiles while she was on the verge of breaking down. She buried her head on the table and bawled out her eyes.

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”May we all rise to greet the bride ” the priest, said as the musicians began to play The Bridal March. The ceremony was being held at the marquis courtyard. An arbour was set up in the courtyard with few chairs. It was a shotgun wedding so many people were not invited.

Everyone rose and turned to the entrance of the house where Zemira slowly walked out in her white breast tube, ruffled wedding gown. There were so many ruffles on the skirt and the bodice had an embroidered floral pattern. It was the same dress Xylia had worn on her wedding day to the duke of West Scottin.

”Shes so beautiful ” some of the servants gushed as Zemira made her way down the aisle. Zemira raised her head and saw her parents at the front in their traditional attire; her father wore a pair of black trousers and white shirt with a grey tail-coat and her mother wore a grey satin dress with hints of white and a grey fascinator sat on her blonde hair which was pulled into a bun.

Zemira was quite surprised to see Aza smirking at her. How did she know about the wedding? Zemira thought. Does Stern know as well? she thought as Azas smirk turned to a smile and then she mouthed, ”Congratulations ”.

Zemiras eyes travelled to the flower arch where her soon-to-be husband stood with the priest. Cassian looked very handsome in his white trousers and black and white tail-coat which were studded with diamond buttons and on his shoulders were golden shoulder brooches.There was a sheathed sword at his hip. Once a soldier, always a soldier. He would have looked better if only he wore a smile on his face.

It was clear that the both of them were not happy and that they did not want to get married.

Zemira handed her bouquet of carnations to Xylia who sat at the front seat with her husband. Her brother, Ivar, the earl of Uhoria, was also present with his wife. His youngest sister was finally getting married, though he did not know the circumstance at which she was getting married. She would finally have a sense of responsibility.

Cassian stretched out a gloved hand to Zemira who looked at his hand then at him before she took his hand then he led her up to the priest.

Everyone took their seats as the couple faced each other and the music died down. ”We are gathered here today to witness the union between Cassian Monterey and Zemira Cobain ” the priest began and looked around. Everyone had smiles on their faces except the bride and groom.

”If anyone present knows of any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace ” the priest said and looked around again. There was no sign of movement from anyone.

The priest waited for about a minute but no one stood up. He sighed and continued, ”Very well then, marriage is a solemn— ” ”Zemira! ” someone yelled, accompanied by a horse neighing and everyone looked at where the noise had come from; the gates of the compound.

Stern jumped down from his horse and ran inside. Cassian had already taken out his sword to defend himself. Zemira looked at Stern, ”You
e getting married to him? Really Zemy? You
e getting married to the mad viscount? ” Stern said and Cassian rolled his eyes, must be her former lover, he thought but he still kept his sword unsheathed.

Everyone was baffled at the drama unfolding before them. Ivar was yelling at the servants to get Stern out of the premises, Xylia was trying to assure the guests that nothing was wrong. As usual, Verona felt faint so she was sitting with a glass of water in her hands. Altair had told Isaiah to get his pistol.

”You said you were not ready for marriage? Was it just a farce? A lie, so you would not wed me? ” Stern asked. He was obviously hurt.

Aza got up from where she sat and ran to hold Stern, ”Brother, control yourself! ” she said as she saw servants marching towards them and Isaiah had arrived with the pistol. ”Was I not good enough Zemy? ” Stern asked.

Cassian looked at Zemira, there were tears in her eyes. ”Brother, come! ” Aza said as she dragged Stern out. ”Zemy! Zemira! Zemira! ” Stern shouted as he was being dragged outside.

Cassian kept his sword back in his sheath and looked at Zemira, ”Lets continue with the ceremony ” he said as he turned back to the flabbergasted priest. ”Eh? I should continu— ” Cassian slightly brought out his sword, ”Continue with the damn ceremony! ” he growled lowly and the priest gulped nervously then he continued with the ceremony.

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Glasses were clattered together, music was being played, laughter was being erupted from every corner.

”Now you are in the married women community ” Xylia and the women with her laughed. Zemira just forced a smile. ”Zemy! ” Verona called and the women grumbled, ”We were just having a little married women chat, mother ” Xylia grumbled as Zemira walked away from the clique and to her mother.

Verona hugged Zemira and looked at her, ”Are you feeling okay? ” she asked and Zemira nodded. ”Don think about what happened at the ceremony ” Altair said and they bowed, ”My lord ”. ”Wish I could throw that rascal into prison. But hes a dukes son and I…am a mere marquis ” he joked and Verona laughed.

Altair only made jokes when he was drunk and the jokes only made Verona laugh. ”My lady ” he said and kissed her hand, ”You owe me a dance ” he said and led Verona to the centre of the room.

Zemira heard clapping beclapping then she turned and saw Aza walking towards her as she clapped. ”I must say, I am impressed. You managed to make the duke of Leordas first born and only son, look mad ”. ”Aza, I did not mean to— ” ”You told him that you did not want to have babies with him because it would distract you from loving him but then you went ahead to marry the mad viscount ”. ”Aza, I am— ” ”Never go near my brother again ” Aza warned her then she walked away.

Zemira held her belly and sighed, ”Its all because of you ” she said then she heard a voice, ”Zemy are you pregnant? ”