Number three!! I'm glad people like it! Please review, they make me happy.
When Erik returned from his shopping he had two new outfits more suited to the labor he'd been doing lately. He contemplated wearing his new black suit but decided the one he had brought with him was more fashionable. He slicked his hair back, cleaned his mask, and shined his shoes. He looked himself over once before he got on his clean horse and went to the Muldoon house.
Brigit had dressed herself up as well. She had put on her party dress, the dress she used on special occasions. It was a deep emerald color, it wasn't anything special, just a green dress that went from just under her chin to her toes, just like every proper girl wears. She had even gone through the trouble of putting on every part of the dress, she normally left off parts of it, she didn't understand why a girl needed to wear more than a corset and drawers under their dress. She hated that she was dressing up for him too, she didn't want to like him, he was ruining her plans, she wanted to live a life of solitude, but he made her wish to marry and have children.
At seven o'clock exactly, Erik knocked on the door. When Brigit answered, he was shocked once more with her beauty. She was wearing a plain green dress, but she looked stunning. He realized he must have been staring when she blushingly invited him into her house. It was a humble home, there was an off-white living room as soon as he walked in. It had a fireplace that already had a few blocks off wood burning, it had a small piano in the corner, and a few chairs for guests.
Erik followed Brigit through a hallway which apparently ran the length of the house. She turned and led him into the first room on the left, also the only room without a door. It was a large dining hall with a small table in the middle. The walls had a brown, stripy wallpaper which he thought was absolutely atrocious.
Brigit led him to one side of the table and motioned for him to sit. Erik watched her glide over to the other side of the wooden table. He could tell from the way she was walking that she was a dancer, everything about how she moved was graceful, he thought she looked amazing.
"So, do you like Ireland?" Brigit's father asked when he walked into the brown room.
"I do, it is a gorgeous country." Erik replied.
Brigit's father continued to ask about Erik's house and where he was originally from, while Brigit walked back from the kitchen to serve them and eat and then to return to the kitchen to get more food. It was around ten, when she had disappeared with the last, empty dishes.
"Mr. Muldoon, I was wondering if I could talk to you about a business proposition?" Erik watched as Mr. Muldoon leaned closer and his face lost much of his smile. This must have been his business face.
"What is it, lad?" He asked lighting his pipe.
"Well, My Muldoon, I was wondering if you would allow Brigit to come over to my house every day possible so she can tell me some Irish tales." He paused, avoiding the scrutinizing gaze of the older man. "I am a composer, you see, and I was hoping to come up with an idea for an opera based on the stories."
"Ah, yes, are you sure that is all you wish to have her come over to yer house for?" Mr. Muldoon asked lifting a bushy, grey eyebrow.
"Sir!" Erik exclaimed, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the man's accusations. "The only other thing I might have her do is dance for me to let me see how my music effects my audience. That is all, sir." Erik watched stunned as Mr. Muldoon started laughing. Why did everyone in this town have to laugh at him.
"Relax, lad, I's just teasin' ye!" The portly man got out between his thunderous laughter. When the man calmed down he looked at Erik. "Well, I'll let ye borrow 'er fer yer purposes, but I must have some kinda' thing to make up fer the money I'll lose when she goes off wit' ye."
"Very well, how much do you believe you'll lose without her?" Erik asked, suddenly very aware that if her father wanted money, then she was going to be very mad. She'd probably feel like she was being sold. He would have to win her over with a different proposition.
"Well, she does lot o' tings on the farm, ye see, so…I'd say a pound a day…aye, that'd do it." Mr. Muldoon said nodding his head. Both heard a gasp from the doorway and turned to find Brigit with a bright red face.
"Da!" She yelled angrily at her father. "What the 'ell do ye tink yer doin'! Sellin' me to the 'ighest bidder? Eh? Eh?!" She screamed running from the room. Erik was stunned. Well, he thought, my assumption was correct. He would have to find some way to win her over.
"Well, lad, if we can get her to yer 'ouse, then you got yerself a deal." The man leaned back in his chair, fiddling with is pipe. "Ye know, she's got quite a fiery spirit. I've been tryin' to find a lad who could control 'er." the man sighed and looked deep into Erik's eyes. Erik could see pain in them. "My lass, she's got it in 'er 'ead to stay alone, ne'er marry. Lad, I just canno' 'ave that. I 'ave to marry 'er off." the man got up and went to a window. He stood there for a while before turning back to Erik. "'er birthday is coming soon. She'll be sixteen in a month.
"Erik, I want 'er to be 'appy, but she refuses to marry. I'll have to bid 'er off to the man who will offer the most fer 'er on 'er birthday." He turned back to the window. "If ye can make 'er 'appy, I'll give ye 'er 'and, but she 'as to be 'appy." The portly man in brown turned to Erik one last time. "Ye 'ave one month to win 'er over."
After fifteen minutes of silence, Brigit entered the brown room, with a gun. "Mr. O'hUigin, ye'll be leavin'…now." She ordered pointing the shotgun at Erik. He quickly grabbed his coat and left, it would be much harder to win her over than he had originally thought.
"Da, what the bloody 'ell were ye tinkin'?!" Brigit yelled at her father, he had never done something like this before, never.
"The lad only wants you to tell 'im some stories and dance fer 'im. I ain't marryin' ye off yet!" He said, suddenly becoming quiet when he saw his daughter's face blanch.
"Yer…yer…gonna…I 'ave at sit down.." She whispered as she collapsed into one of the chairs by the table. Her father was going to marry her off? She thought she had shaken that silly thought from his head. Who would he give her to? Dempsy, the pig headed oaf that had been asking for her hand for years? Cronan, the one who had stolen many girls' virginities? She shuddered, she didn't want any of them, no man could tame her, and they never would be able to!
"Mo croཽ, I 'ave to, t'is fer yer own good. When I pass on, who'll protect ye? 'Eh?" Her father asked cradling her in his arms. She was his world and he hated to hurt her.
"I'd take care 'o meself, Da, I'm a strong lass, I could survive, Da." She begged, looking at her father with tear filled eyes.
Her father shook his head, tears coming to his wizened, grey eyes. "Alas, my child, I fear fer ye, and only want ye pretected, which means ye must be wed…" The two said no more, only cried, letting their fears out.
I'm so sorry!! This is a VERY short chapter, and it took me a LONG time to update, I just kinda hit a brick wall, and I think I've hit another. I'm very sorry, but your reviews always keep me motivated! Thanks for waiting, and once more I'm terribly sorry.