Emily walked through the cool night air; it was cold enough that she could see the vapors on her breath. Her cheeks stinged from the residual tear stains that were still slightly wet. She found herself in the less desirable part of town as it was only a few streets over from her upscale home. She often walked this street when she was upset or needed to escape from her parent's grasp.
See, Emily's father had always been cold towards her, treating her as more of an accessory than a daughter. She was nothing but a prize to him, proof that he could keep the Carpenter bloodline going. Her mother on the other hand had always treated her with love and shown her compassion whenever she did spend time with her, which wasn't often enough. What frustrated Emily about her mother was that despite that love, she always supported father's decisions and discipline. "It's the wife's job," She'd say. "A woman doesn't question her husband's wishes."
Emily scoffed as she thought about them. A master and his servant trying to sell their heir to the highest bidder. How irrational. As Emily was thinking this, she was passing by the local pub. She stopped and peered through the window. She saw the Taylor twins with whom she assumed were there respective husbands, who also happened to be twins. How odd, Emily thought. Then she noticed another table.
There sat a man by himself, a pint sat in front of him as he played with a coin, spinning it on the table and watching the light bounce off the wall beside him. Then his gray eyes shifted to her. She looked at Lord Barkis with a soft smile, he eyes keep flashes towards the ground, trying not to blush too much. He gave a soft smile back and winked before taking a sip of his mead. His lips were left moistened and they gleamed in the candlelight making them look plumper than they already were.
Amid her lust, Emily happened to glance at the twins and Quinn was looking over her husband's shoulder at Emily. She followed Emily's gaze to Lord Barkis and then looked back at Emily, perplexed. Without a second thought, Emily quickly lifted the hood of her cloak over her head, tightening the drawstrings as she rushed back home, her fathers voice echoing in her head. Think about how your actions affect his family…
Once home, she quietly locked her front door and rushed to the safety of her room. The noise she made must've woken Miss Gail, for she heard that knock at her door.
"Are you alright, Miss Emily?"
"Yes," Emily lied. "I was just using the toilet."
She heard Miss Gail's light footsteps wander from her door back to her room down the hall. Emily changed out of her blue gown she had worn since dawn and put on her nightgown, finally ready to retire for the night.
The next afternoon, Emily sat in her favorite nook in the family room, reading one of her favorite tales. The story of a princess, who happens upon a prince in the forest, as she sang of future love while animals gathered 'round. This story always made Emily smile.
She was quite engrossed in the story when her father walked in, hands behind his back. The soles of his shoes against the polished wood floors snatched Emily from her fantasy world and back into reality. She marked her place and gently shut her book, barely making eye contact with him. They hadn't spoken since a couple days ago when he tore into her.
"Sleeping beauty?" he asked condescendingly, "Again?"
"Father, what need do you have of me?" Emily's question was stated shortly, but polite enough as to not ignite her father's temper.
"You're to attend dinner with us this evening, despite your petty feelings against me."
Emily sighed. "Why exactly is that? With all due respect, sir, you haven't seemed to have missed me."
Her father's eyes narrowed. "We have invited your chosen to attend so you can finally meet in person. He has a tight schedule, so this is his only free night. If you wish to keep what little privileges you have, you'll do as I say."
He left as quickly as he came, leaving Emily full of dread. So this was the night she was to meet her "beloved'? How wonderful.
As sarcastic thoughts flew through Emily's head, she reopened her book and tried to re-immerse herself into a story of true love. It didn't work. Defeated, Emily stood and put her house shoes back on. She threw the book back onto the shelf before leaving for her room to prepare for tonight's dinner. Not just aesthetically, but emotionally as well.
When she reached her room, Miss Gail was already inside, her frail hands sorting through Emily's gowns trying to find the perfect one. "Big night tonight, isn't it?" She was obviously way too excited for Emily's taste. "You're finally meeting your beau, who is quite handsome I'd assume."
"I wouldn't know," Emily said, "I have yet to meet his royal highness."
"Silly girl," Miss Gail chirped. "He's no prince. He's just a wealthy man from a neighboring city. That's no kingdom."
"He may as well be." Emily sat in her vanity, letting her hair down so Miss Gail could start working on her updo. "What else would make my parents decide on my husband so quickly? The ball hardly lasted an hour."
Miss Gail started to brush Emily's hair. "Miss Emily, please remember what we spoke about. Just give him a chance. Unfortunately, you have no choice." Miss Gail's brushing slowed. "No woman does." She placed the brush down and rushed to the dresses. "Now," she said, holding up a dress with a smile, "How about the green?"
The night came quicker than she was prepared for and she stepped into the dining room ahead of schedule. The emerald dress was a little tight around her armpits, so she kept shifting her shoulders hoping to relieve some of the pressure.
The dining table was dressed in a silk cloth, already set with their finest china, pure silver cutlery delicately framing the dishes. Emily hadn't seen it this nice since her fifteenth birthday.
Her parents entered, also dressed in their finest attire and gestured for Emily to sit. They all took their respective seats and waited as the clock in the room ticked away, counting down to 5 0'clock.
"So," Mother said, "Are you ready, darling?"
"As ready as I can be." Emily's nerves wouldn't get the best of her, no matter how hard they tried. "May I ask his name?"
Emily's father interjected. "He is who we've chosen and that's all you need to know for now."
Emily was dazed. "Father, I do not see the harm in knowing his name."
Father started to get flustered. "There is no relevance at this time."
Emily sat, mouth agape as the truth dawned on her. "Father, do you not know his name?" As he glanced away from shame, her disbelief grew. "You've promised my hand to a man whose name you cannot even remember?" She winced when her fathers glare met her eyes.
"You will sit and be silent until he arrives." Emily reluctantly obliged, hoping to avoid another talk like they had on Sunday.
Thankfully, Albert entered the dining room, opening the double doors wide. "Sir, madam, and miss," he said through his mustache. "You're honored guest has arrived."
The man walked into the dining room, hands at his sides. He looked around the room. The first thing Emily's noticed was short but perfectly coifed ginger hair. His green eyes taking in the tapestries that lined the walls until they finally settled on Emily.
He walked to her father, shook his hand, then placed a gentlemanly kiss on her mother's. He glided towards Emily. "Hello," he said before gently grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on the back. His voice was deeper than one would imagine, considering his lean frame. "Alexander Hampshire. Quite the pleasure."
Emily found herself feeling less repulsed than she had thought. "Emily Carpenter, but I assume you knew as much." She smiled. "Enchanted."
"I see you already match my eyes," he teased, glancing at her dress. He took the seat beside her and not too long after the kitchen servants delivered that evenings menu.
Tonight's was a light salad with lemon juice for dressing, roasted pig for dinner, a dish her parents only made for distinguished guests. Finally, there was a blueberry crumb cake for dessert, Emily's favorite. Her mouth watered and she noticed her future husband's mouth open in wonder.
"I have to say I'm quite taken aback by all this," He started. "No one has ever shown me such hospitality before."
"Surely that's not true. A man of your status has to be used to this kind of thing," Emily chuckled.
"Actually, no," he said, a genuine smile dancing on his lips. " I didn't have the luxury of growing up with such…" He paused, as if trying to find what to say. He gestured to all that was around them as he said his next words. "…privilege."
Her father and mother seemed taken aback.
"Well one with your fortune couldn't have just stumbled upon it," her father said as the servants filled their plates."
"Of course not." Alexander looked down at his left hand, stroking a thin scar Emily hadn't noticed. "One who comes from my roots doesn't stumble upon anything. I've had to work for all that I have gained my whole life."
Emily waited for him to pause again before asking a question. "And what of the scar on your hand there? How did that happen?"
Emily's mother tapped her leg gently with her foot, signaling to her that the question was inappropriate. Emily glanced in her direction and shrugged.
Alexander picked up on their not so subtle signals. "It's alright, Lady Carpenter," He started. "She has a right to know about me, does she not? I cut myself while helping my mother cook whilst in the kitchen. I know it's unusual for a male to be in the kitchen but in our situation an exception had to be made." He dazed of in thought as Emily awaited him to continue, but he didn't. "Enough about my past for now. That's something I don't have to worry about anymore." He smiled at Emily. "Now I'm the wealthiest man in my city all by my own doing. I built a business from the ground up which isn't such an easy feat. Enough about me though, what of you all? Tell me about the family." Alexander looked to Emily's father.
Here we go, Emily thought. Emily's father started his long recollection of their ancestors and how they built the Carpenter name. How generation upon generation their company grows, negating the fact the irony that the Carpenters' owned a lumber company, which was convenient considering the amount of forest that surrounded their town. He spoke about how they went from using local wood types to finally starting to get access to the ports on the coast to trade for more refined types of woods to sell. This took up the entirety of dinner and Emily had to hold back snickers as she saw Alexanders eyes glaze over halfway through the main course. He was clearly bored and seemed to regret asking the question.
At the end of dessert, her father ended his boring story and offered for him to stay a while longer for games of chess while Albert play on the piano. He declined.
"I'm sorry, Sir, I cannot. I have dozens of meetings tomorrow. And I'm afraid it's already past time for me to retire for the night." Alexander glanced at Emily. "However, for you I've freed up some time tomorrow, that is if you'd give me the honor of having lunch with me."
Emily smiled. "I don't see why not." Her father let a rare smile show up, one that showed he was pleased. "It's been a pleasure, Mr. Hampshire."
"Please," he said, placing one last farewell kiss on the back of her hand. "My future wife should call me Lex."
"Well then, goodnight…Lex." Emily watched her parents escort him out of the dining hall and towards the front door.
Emily rushed to the sanctuary of her room before her parents could bombarde her with questions. Emily was left more confused than she had been before the dinner. She was still repulsed by the idea of an arranged marriage, but Lex didn't seem so bad. He seemed kind and genuine, from what little her father had let him speak anyway. However, she was still disappointed that this "out of town man" was not Lord Barkis.
It wouldn't hurt to look, she thought. She quickly changed into a less formal outfit and once again grabbed her cloak. Knowing her parents would be distracted in their study by now, and the servants distracted by cleaning up the remnants of what was left from dinner, she snuck out and headed for the pub.
