~ Okay, so I randomly felt like doing an AU Clace fic, and here it is. It's loosely, very loosely, based around parts of Tess of the D'Ubervilles as I adore that story. Same kind of time era, so sorry if I mess anything up. Not used to writing that sort of era XD I hope you enjoy, and drop me a review or two. :} ~
~ Dedicated to Nicola, because she's wanted me to write Clace for a while now and because I love her more than Magnus loves glitter~
"Clarissa!" Clary's father, Valentine Morgenstern called from his spot in the living room. The girl in question grumbled and climbed off her bed, heading downstairs where she was greeted by the sight of her mother and father sat on one of the sofas in front of a blazing fire that bought warmth into the candlelit living room.
"You called, father?" She asked with a curiously cocked brow. Her father beckoned her forward and gestured to the seat across from him and his wife. Jocelyn, Clary noticed, was looking pale and nervous, avoiding her daughters glance. "Where's Jonathan?" Her brother was nowhere to be seen, and judging by the attitude of her parents, she knew this was something important.
"He's in London, last I heard. You know how he is." He replied and waved a hand to gesture he was done with the subject of his son. Clary's brother had a habit of disappearing to far off lands when father got him in a mood. Jonathan was so very different to Clary. Where she had deep red locks and stunning green eyes, Jonathan's eyes were black as tar and his hair was a pale blond; so pale it almost look white. But he took after Valentine who had the same hair and eyes, and Clary took after her mother.
Clary nodded. "Now.. You're probably wondering why we've called you here." Valentine began. "You're 16 years old now Clarissa. It's time you had a husband, and I've found you a perfect suitor. Adrian Nightshade his name is."
It was as she had feared. Ever since the girl had begun her monthly bleeding, she had worried about the moment her father would begin searching for a husband. The Morgenstern's were a very rich family in Alicante and so it was only proper she had a respectable husband as soon as possible.
But her fathers ambitions were not her own. She had always dreamed of marrying for love, and to find out she was being forced into a marriage made her heart drop in her chest and her stomach clench with the desire to be sick all over Valentine's favourite rug.
Valentine noticed his daughter's expression and his jaw clenched slightly. Was she not happy with his choice? "The Nightshades are a very respectable, and very rich family, Clarissa. You will marry the boy."
Clary's eyes began to sting with tears but she blinked them away. She didn't want her father to see her cry. "Am I not even allowed to meet him first, or will you just throw me straight into a marriage with him? Knowing you, it'll probably be the latter." She spat at her father and Clary saw his jaw tense up again, her mother biting her lip as she awaited Valentine's reaction.
"We are throwing an engagement party for you both tomorrow evening. That's when you'll meet him." He replied in a strained tone. His daughter could tell his calm demeanour was just an act and that he longed to raise his voice at her, possibly even strike her as he'd done a few times before when she'd angered him so.
The girl simply stood and stormed out of the room, quickly making her way up to her bedroom. From there she could hear muffled shouts beneath her floorboards as Valentine finally broke. The words were something along the lines of,
"That ungrateful little bitch! I do everything for her And this is how she repays me? Does she not understand what I had to do to get such a fine match?!"
Her mother must have calmed him though for moments later, the voices died down.
It was a knocking at her door that awoke Clary, and grumbled out, "Go away" as she sunk her head back into her pillow. Her words were ignored though as the door was pushed open and a figure entered the room, shutting the door behind them. She could see the sillouette of a woman as the figure flung open her curtains, Clary's eyes snapping shut in the harsh light of the sun.
"Come along, Clary. It's time to get up." She recognised the voice as her mothers. The girl pushed to a sitting position, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as her mother sat down on the bed next to her. "I have your dress for this evening." Jocelyn smiled, though it was a sad smile.
Her mother laid the dress out on Clary's lap. She had to admit, it was magnificent. A deep blue in colour, long sleeved with skirts that flowed from beneath the corset. The square neckline of the corset was lined with tiny white pearls along the hem that glistened in the sunlight.
"Have you met him, mother?"
"I have."
"What's he like?" Clary glanced at her mother then, waiting for Jocelyn's response. Her mother swallowed thickly before she caught her daughters gaze, forcing out a smile that fooled even her daughter. "He's lovely. Really. I'm sure you'll be a very happy wife, my dear." With that, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her daughters forehead, leaving with, "I'll leave you to do whatever it is you have planned for today. Be sure to be present for when the party begins."
When the door shut, Clary allowed herself the luxury of a single escaping tear that carried with it the pain and hurt of what her father was making her do. Yes, her mother had said he was lovely, but she didn't believe it. She had a horrible feeling about her husband-to-be, and she hadn't even met him yet..
The reflection in the mirror stared back at Clary, it's expression was forlorn and sadder than it had ever before been. The dress fit Clary like a glove, making her figure look perfect though it was nowhere near that without the dress. She was too thin, and this meant she her breasts were lacking in size. The tight corset did nothing to enhance them at all and only made it hard for her to breathe. Her red tendrils were pinned up away from her face; a special request from her father who'd told her it would make her seem 'more beautiful.'
Clary sighed to herself. She could hear music from downstairs, the guests having already arrived around an hour ago but she hadn't been down there at all. She dreaded meeting her husband-to-be but, knowing it had to be done, she mustered up the strength to make her way downstairs.
It took her a while, but she managed to find her parents. They were accompanied by 3 other people and when her father caught a glimpse of his daughter, he announced in a jovial tone, "Ah! Here she is. My dearest daughter, looking more beautiful than ever." At this, the people in front of the girls' parents turned to face her.
The first two, a middle-aged man and woman. The man had a great bushy brown beard that matched the colour of his hair and kind blue eyes that welcomed Clary. The woman had honey blonde hair that shone like gold in the dim light of the room, and her eyes were a piercing deep brown. She looked at Clary in almost a disgusted manner, as though Clary was beneath her rank and the look made the girls' blood boil with slight annoyance.
And then she flickered her glance to the final group member. He seemed young, around Clary's age and had jet black hair smoothed back into a smart hairdo. His brown eyes fixated curiously on her own. After a moment, the young man bowed and lifted the girls' hand into his own, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles and mumbling against them. "Adrian Nightshade." This is him. Clary thought with slight horror. "At your service,my lady." He paused to straighten his form once more, keeping her hand in his own as a thick eyebrow quirked. "Care to dance?"
Clary casted her mother a quick glance and Jocelyn nodded in return, inaudibly telling Clarissa to go ahead.
She was tugged, not harshly, out onto the dance-floor where the man lead her around in swirls and spins, an affectionate smile on his face. Even she had to admit the boy was handsome and charming beyond compare.
He moved with the grace of a lion around the ballroom, and Clary couldn't help the soft giggle that sounded in her throat as he accidentally bumped into a grumpy old man trying to dance with his wife. He grinned boyishly down at the girl at the sound of her giggle, muttering out, "Oops. Should probably stop gazing into those magnificent eyes and begin paying attention to the other dancers."
His comment made Clary's cheeks feel hot with a flush, a shy smile curving her lips in response.
The pair had surprisingly got on pretty well. He was kind to her, charming and exceedingly intelligent compared to most boys her age. By the time the party had ended, Clary had actually felt herself wanting to spend a little more time with him, wanting to get to know him better.
As he was about to leave, he turned to her, taking one of her hands in his own that looked large in comparison and asked, "May I take you out tomorrow, dear Clarissa? On a walk perhaps, or a picnic?"
She bit down on her lip, unsure of what to answer. "She'd love to. Pick her up in the morning." It was Valentine's voice. He came up beside them both, grinning to himself as he noticed their hands locked before he retreated away, leaving Clary with a somewhat glum expression at his interruption. "Is that your wish, Clarissa? I know it's your fathers but I want it to be yours as well..." Adrian muttered, dark eyes pleading with her own.
"I'd love to." Clary replied and flashed him a broad smile as he lightly pressed his lips to her hand and uttered his goodbyes.