Here is chapter two. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this! This is just my alternate ending. Libba Bray owns the characters and story.
Gemma POV, one month later
So much has changed since we were last in the realms. The most pivotal would be how the English have finally accepted other races into society. Who would have thought that this would ever be possible? It was like magic; all of a sudden people of different skin colours were accepted, as if it had always been that way.
Felicity, Ann and I seemed to be the only ones who noticed anything. Could this be something to do with the Realms? If it is, why? As wonderful as it is that every race is being treated equally, what could the Realms' magic be doing interfering with our world? None of this makes sense to me. Ann and Felicity cannot make sense of it, either.
Now when we were invited to attend balls and parties, we conversed and danced with men of different colour and it has been bittersweet. On one hand, I have enjoyed speaking with other people than the "proper" English, speaking with people about India and other countries.
On the downside, it has only brought me pain because I know that, if this change had occurred six months ago, Kartik and I could have been together. We could have danced at grand balls instead of in the stables, strolled arm-and-arm in the park, and maybe gotten married and had children. Those thoughts of what could and should have been haunt me as I cried myself to sleep at night.
We still attend Spence Academy, which only brings back more memories,. Every where I go, I relive the time we were together. Our walks by the lake, midnight conversations in the chapel. The night that everything changed especially, everywhere I go. The main hall, the forest, just walking through the halls of this old building reminds me of what I lost.
Last night I was sitting in the parlour staring out the window when Father came in.
After dinner, I had gone up to bed early like every other night, and I had received a letter from my father.
My darling Gemma,
I have wonderful news. I have found you a husband! I know you think that it is too soon to be thinking of marriage, but I want to see you happy and taken care of before I pass. Trust me, daughter, I have not chosen just any man for you. I told him about you Gemma, and he wants to marry you, even though he hasn't met you. He knows that we don't have a lot of money, but that is not concern to him, that has to tell you something, don't you think? I have checked with resources as well, and he has no records of arrests, gambling addictions, nothing! Perfectly clean! He just moved here from India, Gemma, I truly believe he is a good man, and you deserve that. He has a very profitable trading company, but does not have to travel himself, so you would have a stable home. Think about how wonderful it would be to return home to India, because I know that you miss it! Though it pains me to think of being so far from you, I think it would be best.
Of course I will take your own opinion into account, Gemma. If you truly find that he makes you uncomfortable or afraid (which I do not believe you will), I will not force your hand.
I just want the best for you, my darling daughter.
I will see you on Tuesday, June 3rd at 11 o'clock.
Your loving Father
As I first started reading it, I was disgusted. How could I marry a man I had never met? But I remembered the promise I had made to myself; that I would do as my father wished, no matter what. I would marry this man…whose name Father forgot to mention.
AN: Ok, I was not able to update yesterday because I was reading City of Glass, but tomorrow I will try to have another chapter up, because I this one isn't too exciting, more of an explanitory chapter for what will happen. This is only going to be a short story, and there won't be drama...
Hope you enjoyed it!