London, 1850
The story didn't begin until the wild one met the strange man. The strange man had decided to call upon the wild one. He was looking to marry the wild one.
The wild one was a young girl of eighteen with wild, unruly, red, curly hair. She had pale skin and piercing green eyes. Her figure was very slender and all the other girls envied her for it. On this particular day, she wore a scarlet dress with a red hair ribbon. She also hadn't socialized with others much since her mother passed.
The strange man stood outside the front door of the house. People say that the strange man had a presence. It had been observed once that his eyes were bold and could draw anyone in. He knocked on the door and the maid answered. The maid quickly went to fetch the master of the house.
"You may wait in the parlor, for the master of the house, sir." The maid stated politely and then adjusted her bonnet.
The father was almost in shock or bewildered that the strange man would come. Her brother had a hopeful feeling that this man would be right for his sister. The strange man however wished that he didn't have to marry the wild one.
"I would like to ask permission to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage." Joseph said.
" I did not think that this day would come." The wild one's father replied.
"Your daughter is a lovely young woman, I am sure. She is also the daughter of a man who owns a very lucrative company."
"I don't know if I would call my daughter lovely by any means. She is a bit wild and restless, some call her a heathen."
" How wild is she?"
"She has no manners and little respect for others. I am afraid that she is rather awkward." The wild one's father answered
"I am sure that she can be taught to be a lady." Joseph responded confidently.
" She is fiercely stubborn and has a rebellious streak. She doesn't know much of the world, but she does hear of it."
" So she is a silly girl who thinks she knows it all?"
" Mercy hardly considers herself an intellectual."
" Very well, then she shall be less disagreeable." Joseph replied.
"Mercy is hardly disagreeable, only cold hearted."
"At least she is a quiet woman."
" Let me get her for you."
Mercy's father called the maid in and told her to go fetch Mercy. The maid ran off quickly looking for Mercy in the large estate. A few minutes later Mercy came downstairs and entered the room.
Joseph looked at Mercy and was shocked by her appearance. She wore a dress that was barely tailored. She stared at Joseph, and then looked down.
"This young man here wants to ask for your hand in marriage." Mercy's father stated.
"A restless spirit doesn't settle "The wild one mumbled in response.
"He is a fine suitor." Her father said looking at her.
Mercy looked around and then got up and began to run up the stairs holding her dress. Joseph got up and began to follow her. Mercy ran up the stairs and took a deep breath. She looked at the door and she went in the room.
Joseph found her and looked at her and said" It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." The wild one said as she looked around nervously.
Then Mercy ran out into the next door and into a different wing of the house. Joseph stood there trying to figure out what he was going to do with her. Joseph ran after her quickly, trying to figure out where Mercy had gone. Mercy looked around and then saw the door. She opened the doors ran into the garden. Mercy climbed up the wall of the garden shed, and stood on the roof. She just stood there for a moment and took in the sight of the garden. Mercy climbed down the shed a minute later. Mercy sighed and looked at a flower picked it up and smelled it. It smelled sweet and tender to her; it reminded her of her mother. She wanted to paint it, she wanted to show it for all of its beauty.
"Do I make you nervous?" Joseph said making eye contact with her. It had taken Joseph at least ten minutes to find her.
Mercy didn't answer and just ran further into the garden looking up at the sky as she ran.
"It's is not my intention to make you nervous." Joseph added, still standing in the same spot he stood before.
Mercy sat down on the ground and arranged her skirts, she sat there in silence.
"Do you speak at all?" The strange man inquired.
Mercy shook her head and gave him a piece of paper with a drawing on it. It was a picture of a woman with a rose.
"Who is she?"The strange man inquired as he looked at it intently.
Mercy refused to tell him and left in a hurry, heading back towards the house. She ran in and went up the stairs, she ran to the painting room. Mercy looked the door and sat down on the ground. Joseph knocked on the door and the wild one could feel his temper flaring with each second. Joseph ran into the door as hard as he could, he opened the door. Mercy looked at him horrified that he had entered her sanctuary. Joseph stared at all the paintings and drawings. Then he looked at the girl for a moment. "
If I must, I will tell them you had a terrible fit, and that it up to me to decide if we shall wed. " he said.
The wild one looked at him and had a look of horror on her face.
"But I will not like it if I have to be insistent." Joseph declared.
"I shall not like that either." The wild one mumbled.
Joseph stroked his fingers gently against her cheek. Mercy didn't move a muscle and looked at Joseph with wide eyes.
" It would be a difficult task to make you a lady. Especially one that is presentable to London. "
Mercy looked at him and then scoffed at the notion. Joseph chuckled and removed his hand from her cheek.
"I wish not to be out there." Mercy stated.
" It seems you have no choice
" I'm not one for speaking, but you force me too."
"Indeed I do, you have a lovely voice." Joseph responded.
"I have a soft voice."
"You would be a beautiful bride."
"I have no desire to be any man's bride."
" You wouldn't even be my bride?"
"Especially not your bride " Mercy answered.
"You would be such a quiet wife."
"I am neither dainty nor gentle."
"You can become those things."
" It is not my choice to sir, I shall dread day ,if it comes, that I have to call you dear husband." Mercy stated.
" Madame, it seems you don't have much a say in this matter."
"It seems so."
"For a woman that doesn't talk, you are well spoken."
" I am well informed sir."
"You are well informed of the inside sphere.."
" No I am well informed on the strange nature of humans."
"You have hardly been outside the house." Joseph pointed out.
I have heard tale upon tale about the world. I recall them in my mind."
"My dear, the world is much more than a tale; if you marry me you will just spend your time in another house."
" I do not wish to do so, there is something telling me that I shouldn't."
"I know in my heart that I could love you at any rate."
"I do not want your love." Mercy said.
"It doesn't matter if you want my love or not."
"It matters to my heart."
"The feelings of your heart are of no importance to me."
"What is your name, kind gentlemen?" Mercy asked.
"Joseph is my name, what is your name, my dear?"
"Mercy."
"What a beautiful name, but you say it with such coldness."
" I tell you with such coldness." Mercy answered,
"One day I will call you my darling with such warmth in my voice."
" I will recoil when you call me that."