Title: Unwilling Bride
Author: Neamh
Disclaimer: Not mine
Feedback: I've had such great feedback so far, please keep it coming guys, i love to hear what you think - Thanks x
Warnings: Please do not read if you are under 17
Molly watched as a carriage entered the estate grounds
and pulled up to the front of the house, two large
matching black bays pulled the huge black and gold
carriage. She didn't recognize the stranger who
stepped from inside but he was obviously a man of
great wealth and title. The loud knocking on the door
alerted the butler of his arrival and he quickly bid
the gentleman into the household and showed him to the
greeting room where Molly awaited him.
"Good afternoon Sir, how may I be of service?" she
asked with a small curtsey.
"Are you Miss Summers?" he asked removing his gloves
and hat and handing them to the butler while giving him
instructions to have his luggage brought in from the
carriage and moved to the best available guest room.
"No Sir. I'm Molly, Miss Summers chambermaid." she
replied, her voice slightly quivering in his imposing
presence. She had never seen any male so tall and dark
before. He looked very menacing and she prayed for her
mistress that this was not the mysterious suitor her
father had arranged for her.
"Where is Miss Summers, Molly?" he asked in that
demanding tone that left no room for babbling or lies.
"She's in her chamber sir, I'm afraid she hasn't left
her bed since her father passed away."
"Hank has already passed away?" he asked and she
noticed the brief sadness in his eyes before he
concealed it. "When?"
"Four days ago, Sir." Molly answered promptly.
"Is Miss Summers well?" he asked, a totally blank
canvass in his emotions.
"I'm afraid not sir, her physical condition seems to
worsen with each day. She never leaves her room and
she seems to constantly cry for her loss. She barely
touches her food and she hasn't spoken a word to
anyone since it happened. I only knew you were coming
because I sat with the mistress while the solicitor
read out her father's Last Will and Testament
yesterday. There's a copy of it, been saved for you,
Ronan the butler has it," she finished. She wouldn't
usually betray her mistress so to a stranger but she
was at a loss for what to do to help her.
"Very well, thank you Molly. Could you please inform
Miss Summers that I have arrived and request her
presence at the dinner table tonight at seven sharp."
"I'm afraid she refuses to leave her room Sir." Molly
said then bit her lip at the sharp look her gave her.
"Molly, soon I will be the master of this house and
everyone in it will do as I bid. Miss Summers is not
doing herself any good sitting in her room grieving.
She will no doubt feel great loss for her father but
it will not do to have her ill, will it?" he said.
"No Sir, I'll inform the mistress right away" she said
and hurried from the room. She didn't like his lack of
affection or understanding but she did agree that
Buffy making herself sick was not the way to go. She
feared the upcoming confrontation between her mistress
and her new master, for it was sure to be an exploding
one.
TBC...
