With unbidaled out rage, Arthur pounded his fist against the coffee table, his father turned away in shame at the new he just reveled to his eldest son. "You can't just sell me!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Marry you off." George corrected his son. "I don't like it anymore than you do, lad."
"Like hell!" Arthur protested, George held up a hand to silence him.
"We don't have any other choice, we'd lose everything. The business, the cars, the house. We'd be on the streets in no time, you will do this for your family." Arthur begun to open his mouth to protest again but the glaring eyes caused him to shut it. "I will hear no more of it, you will do as I say, boy."
Arthur bit back growl in the back of his throat. "But...to another m-man!" He demaned.
His father gave a shrug. "Francis is a...swinger of a man in his personal life, must have rubbed off on his son as well. He may be gay, but you will belt up about it and do your duty for this family. I have your mother and brothers to take care of and will not let them suffer for your comfort's sake!" He barked, causing Arthur to flinch.
Arthur lowered his head in obedience, trying not to talk out of turn or get anymore of a rise out of his father. "Who...who is his son?"
George's poise returned to more relaxed, glad his son was behaving once more, re-raising his tea cup to sip from it. "Alfred, his eldest son, you met him at the last Chirstmas party. That blonde American bloke."
Arthur almost dry heaved on the spot. "That bloody idoit?" George glared and the boy recoiled. "A-Are you sure?"
"Of course I am, Francis told me himself." He said taking a ginger sip of his Earl Grey. "And I will not tolerate you refering to him as an idiot, do you understand?"
The boy had to resist the urge to grumble. "Yes father..."
"Good, you will be staying with the Bonnefoys till the wedding to get well aquantied with your..husband to be." Arthur made a displeased face at that.
George reached over the table to give his son a swat to the back of his head, causing the boy to almost jump. "You will not be so disrepectful at that house or god help you.." He trailed off, the threat hanging in the air, leaning back into his chair. "Now to your room to pack your things, a carrige will be here in the morning to collect you." He dismissed, focusing on his tea instead of the shocked expression his son now wore.
Arthur left without another word and didn't have a care when he slammed his bedroom door as hard as he could mange. He pressed his back against the wood, slowly sliding down it as he slow broke down in to tears. He could not even believe it.
How could he? How? He was being treated like nothing more than property, something to be traded off easily. And for what? To keep the family business, he was a person for chirsts sake!
He slowly became numb inside, his tears drying and his hopes fled from him. They were wasted, who would care how he felt about this? He had no choice. As his father said, it was his duty to this family.
He stood and took to the task at hand, pulling out his lugge and slowly packing his whole life away into the few boxes. He grew more and more depressed with every pericous item he put away.
When he finished he climbed into his bed without bothering with undressing or pulling over the covers. He clutched tightly to his pillow, sobbing into it, knowing this would the last time he would be laying here. He cried himself into a fitful sleep, no rest to be had.
He didn't know if it was a dream or if he was just half a sleep and seeing things, but he swore his mother came to his side as he slept. Sheding broken tears she storked his hair softly, whispering apologizing over and over. She told him how she never wished this for him and that she loved him so very much.
"I'm sorry, so so sorry, my baby angel. Had I known this would fall upon you..I would have told you to run. I love you..." And she was gone, like a ghost returning to the mist.
Day break came and Arthur had watched the dark turn to grey turn to pink and gold, it was wasted on his soulless eyes. He held on tightly to one of his suitcases as a knock came from his door. Not yet...it couldn't possible be time. He wasn't ready..
George stepped into the room with a solem look upon his face, not looking his son in the eyes. "The carriage has come. You will be having breakfast with the Bonnefys."
Arthur wondered if his father was starting to feel remorse, was he finally feeling regret for what he was doing? Or was it merely guilt...he doubted it highly. Arthur sighed, none of it truly mattered, for he knew he was still going and nothing could stop it.
"Yes..father..." Arthur spoke softly, feeling no effort for speech. He stood, walking past his father without even a passing glance. He watched nothing but his feet as he made his way to the carriage.
He watched as his things were brought down and piled up onto the carriage, he did his best to put on a strong face. He hugged all his little brothers goodbye and tightly held his mother and begged her not to cry. Told her she could visit whenever she pleased.
He would not hug his father, he refused, all that man had put him through, he only gave him a nod and climbed into the empty carriage. He looked out the back window as his family and home steadly disappeared from sight.
Deep in the pit of his stomach something told him he wouldn't see much of them after this day and that broke his heart right in two.
