Chapter 12 – Confusion
Just by honest chance, Tairy and Derrick happen to walk into the dinning room at the same time. His grin and her blush arouse every body's interest right away; but none say anything. They all wait patiently, knowingly.
They make it through the second course of the meal before Bella could take no longer the looks she caught from Derrick to Tairy.
"Come out with it, for goodness sake. I don't care if it's proper to announce it over dessert, just tell us what's going on now before we all die of suspense."
Tairy's face becomes a deep crimson as Devon bursts out laughing. Derrick gives his twin a wicked glare as he stands up. He looks at every person at the table, but a sweet smile reaches his face as he glances at Tairy last.
"If, by now, you haven't figured something out," he gives Bella a pointed look. "Then I am more than pleased to announce that I have asked for Tairy's hand in marriage and she has accepted."
Bella's family being what they are, cry out uproariously in approval of the union. Tairy looks at everyone's smiling faces. She glances at Bella's last; who is smiling and has tears in her eyes. She reaches out to Tairy and they embrace and then begin crying.
"I'm so excited that you're finally going to be my sister."
They finally pull apart and glance each others faces; and they burst out laughing.
The rest of dinner is spent talking cheerfully. Afterwards Tairy, Derrick, Bella, Devin, Alexia (Bella's younger sister), and Bella's parents, Anna and Don Alejandro, all retreat into the family sitting room to discuss wedding plans.
"Tairy dear, do you have a preference in which season you would like to be married?" Anna asks.
Other than as soon as possible? "No, every season is lovely. Just whenever works best."
"Well, we should be waiting two years from the announcement. But seeing as we have all been such good friends for so many years that it wouldn't appear unseemly to wait just one year."
"Oh yes, wouldn't a fall wedding just be lovely?" Alexia cries out. "Just think, it would be the perfect weather to have the ceremony out of doors with the beautiful red and yellow leaves…" she falters when she realizes that she had spoken out, loudly.
But there is a general nod of agreement from all sitting around.
"Fall is lovely. What do you think of an outside ceremony Tairy?" Anna asks.
Tairy eyes unglazed. "Fall is lovely."
"Then it's official. Derrick and Tairy will wed next fall."
§§§
Later as the rest of the house sleeps, Tairy doesn't. Instead she paces her room in contemplation. Though she worries about the impending marriage to a man that she doesn't love, that is not the forefront thought in her mind. No, her mind is, instead, on nearer events; having to go visit her father.
It was just a week away until she had to leave. Tairy was now engaged, but that did not give her allowance to refuse to see her father. Maybe because of this engagement she could feign missing her fiancé and beg the need to return to him quickly?
But her father was not the only thing that was worrying Tairy for when she went to England. The fact was that Javert happen to be in her mother's home town. Being there meant that Tairy had to deal with her mothers colored past…
§§§
The trip was uneventful. Of course she's a bit sore from all the sitting, but other than that, is in perfect health. At least physically. Tairy paid little attention to her surroundings as her mind wanders to and fro. When she arrives, Tairy is more than shocked to realize where she is… at a castle!
And outside, milling about, are dozens of people. The groom comes and opens her door.
"Um, are we at the correct place?" Tairy asks him.
"Of course you are Tairy darling." She looks over to the voice and sees her father standing a few feet away. He comes close and holds out his hand to help Tairy out of the carriage. "How was it?"
"Fine. Just where are we father? I though we would be staying with friends."
"We are dear. This is the home of the Duke and Duchess of England. I'm friends with the royal family. This is where our conference is being held."
Tairy glances at the immaculate gardens and the towering building as she walks forward, and then stumbles.
"Oh I'm sorry, you must be exhausted. Why don't I show you to your room, so you can rest before dinner? Which is big event tonight. You actually have some family here too. Everyone is anxious to meet my daughter."
They walk in and Tairy's mind drifts over the majesty. It's much too hard to take everything in, so before she knows it, Tairy's at her room.
"I'll have a maid come to you to help you get settled in."
"Thank you, father."
She walks in, closes the door, and gasps. Her room was approximately the size of the dinning hall in her house. A bed of the largest size sits in the far right corner. The room is decorated with colors of metallic sheen, causing the room to have an exceptionally rich appearance.
Tairy walks over to the bed and sits down, instantly sinking down into the plushness. She slowly works the rest of her body onto the bed, and quickly falls asleep.
First I must apologize for the stupidly long wait between these last chapters. My muse is retarded. I have the next two or three chapters planned out, but a tiny portion of this one eluded me for quite some time. But now here it is! I can guarantee one more, if not two, chapters in December. Secondly, and most importantly, THANK YOU MY REVIEWERS! You are coolness in and of itself. Please keep reviewing.
