A&A, AU
1912, Arthur and Ariadne are in an arranged marriage. Ariadne must marry this total stranger after disgracing her family. Arthur must marry to accommodate the tradition of the era. Their new trust, and hopeful love for one another, is tested as they move to a large estate that is under threat for jealous, evil relatives.
The Convenient Wife
New York City
September, 1912
1.
~ Ariadne shifted nervously in her seat as the train whistled nosily into it's final stop. She had never been to New York and the city skyline alone was enough to terrify her. What she saw of the population and city from her window was not encouraging. It was an outlandish mixture of people she could never have dreamed of. The streets were not all paved like she had suspected, and there were still horse draw carts and rough looking workmen. These men were pulling and loading iron beams and steel onto lifts that were going to erect tall buildings. They reminded her of some mythical tale of gods building their home which no moral could see, let alone enter.
She pulled out her notebook and quickly jotted that thought down. It might make for a good story idea later. Her fears of this massive city were soon alleviated as she watched the people from her secluded train car. Her fiance, Arthur, had paid for her to have a private trip to the city and she had enjoyed the journey. So much so, she had forgotten that she was on her way to an arranged marriage with a man she had never met.
~ Arthur was waiting for a train. He pulled out a batted, silver pocket watch to check the time again. It had belonged to his father and, even though it was cheaply made, it still ran perfectly.
The watch was the only thing on the young man that wasn't pristine. His whole attire was perfection by any standard. His suit was well made and tailored to fit his long, lean frame. His shoes shone like mirrors. His haircut was in fashion and his jaw was cleanly shaven. The only thing that ruined the effect of a handsome man was the deep, angry scowl he wore.
"Don't worry, she'll be here." Cobb said happily. "Then it's off to the court house and we can get the judge to marry you to. Then it's England for the both of you."
"I know. I know she's going to be here. She doesn't exactly have a lot of options, does she?" Arthur grumbled as she looked down the tracks for her train.
"Don't sell yourself short." Cobb teased. "You're a fine catch."
"Doesn't it bother you that woman has agreed to marry me sight unseen?" Arthur asked.
"Well, her situation in life, she doesn't have much choice. Its a fraud marriage or nothing." Cobb said casually. "She needs a husband, you need a wife if you're going to inherit Lord Bradford's estate and his title."
"I don't care about the title." Arthur said.
"Sure you do." Cobb laughed. "It's very vogue now for American's to have some link to an old English family. We have businessmen marrying off their only daughters to some faraway lord so they will be more interesting at parties.
"I don't go to parties." Arthur said fitfully.
"Well, you will have to." Cobb said sternly. "I'm told the house at Blue Rivers hosts a great deal of social events. You will be required to take up the slack now that his lordship is gone."
"All those first class men who survived Titanic, why couldn't he be one of them?" Arthur grumbled as he sat down next to his old friend.
"We like to think he may have given up his seat to a woman and her child." Cobb said gently. "It doesn't change the fact that Lord Bradford and his only son have been declared lost in the disaster. There is no heir to his estate and England still has that barbaric entail practice. You are the next male family member and you will inherit his house, his money and all his holdings. The only stipulation is that you be married. The lawyers were quite specific on that point. They want the linage to continue and that means no more lonely bachelor nights."
Arthur sighed.
"Don't worry. Ariadne is a fine girl." Cobb said reassuringly. "She attend the best finishing school in Philadelphia and even taught school before her fall from grace."
Arthur shook his head. He didn't like to think about that aspect of his arranged marriage.
"She knows how to throw a good party, arrange flowers and how to make you, her husband look good. Once we get this marriage arranged, she'll be an honest woman and you'll have your estate. You don't have to see her too much if you don't want to. But you have to stay married to her. Otherwise, the estate will go to your distant cousin, Mr. Eames." Cobb explained.
"I know all this." Arthur fumed. "I know I'm marrying a... solid woman."
"Don't think of it like that. Plenty of decent girls get into trouble." Cobb told his old friend. "Who are we to judge? We're not angels you know."
Arthur smiled.
"I know." He said.
Suddenly the train was there. It's loud engines were deafening as steam pushed all along the once empty tracks.
Arthur and Cobb stood. The former smoothing out his suit in a nervous habit of his.
"What if she's ugly?" Arthur asked Cobb.
Cobb only smiled and shook his head.
"We will see." Cobb laughed.
~ 'What if he's ugly?' Ariadne thought as she hesitated to collect her belongings. What if this Arthur person is an old man who can't keep his hands to himself? What if he was the sort to beat her? What if he was the type to beat her then have his way with her? She would be his wife. There was nothing in the law that was there to protect her.
She clumsily took hold of her small carry on bag and descended the steps to the platform.
Everyone was waving and saying hello to the other passengers. No one was there to say hello to her.
Children were running to their grandparents and lovers were embracing as she stood there by herself and feeling foolish.
Nervously, she smoothed out the wrinkles of her dove gray traveling dress. It was a few years out of fashion, but it was well made and still serviceable.
She felt ridicules in the hat however. She was just barely old enough now to start wearing these silly, oversize hats that were all the rage.
Her mother had insisted however. If she was going to get married in New York, she would look presentable.
Her father had said nothing to her that day they bought the hat for her wedding. Her father had stopped speaking to his only daughter all together. She had disappointed him more then he could bare.
Ariadne shook her head and tried not to think of her father.
"Ariadne?" Came a voice from behind her.
She turned. Her head feeling heavy with the large hat balance on her head. It's obscene feathers and flowers weighing her down.
"Are you Ariadne?" The gentleman asked again.
Her eyes lit up. Hope springing into her heart at the picture of perfection that was before her. Her bride groom was impossibly handsome. His blue eyes were clear and pleasant looking. His blond hair was smoothed back and he held his hand out to her protectively. The way a gentlemen should.
"I am." She said feeling her face break out into a smile.
"Good to finally meet you." The gentleman said with a kind smile. "I'm Dominic Cobb."
"Oh, Arthur's friend." Ariadne said sadly. Certainly, this handsome man was not meant for her. Life wasn't that kind to her.
"Also his solicitor." Mr. Cobb told her. "Shall we meet our new friend?" He said waving his hat towards the station's first class waiting room.
"My trunk?" She asked as he guided her chivalrously though the crowds.
"I have my man seeing to it." Cobb assured her.
Ariadne took a deep breath for courage before finally meeting her future husband.
~ Arthur was restless. He thought briefly of running away out the back door, but he wasn't the type to run from something. If she was unsuitable, he would send her back to Philadelphia. He would pay her ticket, perhaps a little more for the inconvenience, and never think about her again.
He didn't need Lord Bradford's estate. His father had come to America when he was only ten years old. Both his parents dieing on the crossing from England. Since then he had worked to give his only son, Arthur, a better life.
Arthur had in turn gone to school and made something of himself. He had started a business in steel and within five years, had ten factories building ships, railroads and colonizing this great continent that was too wild for civilization just a few decades ago.
He was a rich man now. His father, regrettably not living long enough to see his son's great success. Arthur threw himself into work even harder. His school friends all got married and were starting families, yet, he was falling behind. He had no time for women. They were silly creatures who talked of boring things.
Still, Cobb was right. He needed a wife. So many aspects of his life would be easier with a wife to attend to them. A wife would make him more presentable to society. A wife would ensure his personal affairs were in order and a wife would help to keep his name above scandal.
Still, the idea of marrying this strange girl. One who was in a condition, no less, bothered him.
"Arthur?" Came Cobb's voice.
Arthur looked up and stood.
There, on Cobb's arm, was his future bride.