Alright, so this is my very first fanfiction! Please be nice and review please! But nice reviews. "I think you could do this to improve..." Or " This story is awesome!" would work just fine:- )

"Propriety. Acting proper. Being someone you aren't just to impress people. That's my life. That's how I was raised to act. Why was I raised this way: for the sole purpose of getting a husband. Thatis the way thingsare done in the "sophisticated" world. This custom, this well-mannered custom of raising children for marriage proves to be miserable for the children, and wrong for their lives. But, that doesn't matter! Marriage matters! And I'm caught in the middle of it," thought Marie, as the corset strings were laced tighter and tighter around her waist.

Marie was twenty years old. She was absolutely beautiful, with curly brown hair and stunning green eyes that changed color with her moods. Marie's father was a very successful merchant. She and her mother lived in an extremely large house in the town of Port Royal, and were quite wealthy. As a result,Marie got basically what she asked for. She was accepted into all the good family's homes. She was beautiful and rich. She had the life many girls dreamed of. Money, looks, friends. She should be happy.

But she wasn't. As daughter of a rich man, Marie had certain unwritten rules she had to follow. These rules were the plagues of her life. Wear corsets. Do not swear or take large portions of anything at mealtime. Never slurp soup: never drink alcohol. Sit up straight. Don't look so stiff! Walk faster! Slower now, you're almost running! Don't laugh, smile! Men don't like opinionated girls! Men don't like girls who enjoy exercise! Girls should embroider, not fence! These were the sermons Marie heard everyday. Everyday her mother would find something wrong with her and her way of doing things.

"Marie, sit up straighter! You'll never attract a man with that posture!"

"Marie, eat slower! Men don't like girls that aren't dainty!"

Marie do this, don't do that, you can't talk to her, she's vulgar, address him first, he might find you attractive. She was sick of all these manners and rituals that were completely unnecessary! Why did she have to go through this torture! Why couldn't she just not do these things! Why couldn't she just disobey her family? Why all these gatherings to attend that are completely stupid and boring? And now there's one today! Another stupid party!

You see, in hopes of finding Marie a "suitable husband", her mother had gotten her in with the "right crowds" (terribly stuffy rich folks), and these "right" people had invited her family to a party. So now they were going. Marie knew what would happen there too. Her mother would spend the time getting her into "better crowds", while Marie was expected to find a husband.

So, to help Marie attract a man, ("Because your way of acting never will,", said mom), her mother was trying to force her into dress two sizes too small, because "It will look simply lovely once it's on you dear."

No. It wouldn't. Marie didn't look bad in many things, but this dress….ugh. The thing was hideous. Absolutely ghastly. First of all, it was pink. Light, flowery, delicate pink. Marie did not like pink. At all. Second, it had lots and lots of ruffles. There were about 6 layers at the bottom of the skirt, and three layers at the collar and sleeves. And then there was the bow. Oh, that bow! This gigantic white monstrosity that was at least as big as her head, and tied at the front of her dress. "I'm going to look like a five-year- old at a wedding," Marie thought," A very rich five-year-old, but still: a five-year-old at a wedding."

"There!" said her mother, once the hideous thing was on,"Now don't you look like a dream?"

" Yes mother," muttered Marie.

"Don't mumble! Honestly Marie, you are getting so disrespectful! Now dear, I want you to be on your best behavior today! None of that nonsense that happened last time, do you understand? I have no intention of-"

As her mother rambled on, Marie had to try hard not to laugh at the memory of her last party. You see, the last party she had gone to, she had looked quite lovely. Beautiful, in fact. She had worn a green gown that was slightly low-cut: but not too revealing. The emerald green color had made her eyes look amazing, and had simply made her glow. However, most of the men noticed how well she looked. So, they surrounded her and talked. And talked. And talked. After awhile, one certain man started being a jerk because she mentioned she fenced in her spare time (even though her mother had told her not to talk about it). After he started to be a complete imbecile, well…. let's just say that man's arm will never work the same again.

So, when mother found out, Marie got a "talking to" because she "disobeyed her loving mother's advice", ect. Thank goodness father saved her. He had happened to be at home, and heard the argument. Marie's father was the one that allowed her to fence in the first place. So he calmed down mother.

"Oh, there's the carriage!" cried her mother, snapping her out of her reverie," Hurry dear we'll be late! Oh, don't run! You'll never learn will you?"

Her mother kept muttering as they headed to the stairs. Marie just rolled her eyes as she left home to go to yet another boring proper party, with boring proper people.

" Well this will be fun," she thought.

It would be.

Please Review!