p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Three years after Louise's death, George looked for someone to marry his daughter, lest she lose their home when he died. Unfortunately, since she still had the undying habit of staring out to the sea, it was becoming quite difficult for her to notice anyone. With her wandering mind, George felt as though a trip to the sea would help her find some peace. Perhaps a venture out to sea would make her feel appeased, as he now understood what Louise was trying to tell him. While George was pondering such an idea, he wondered if his daughter had found a man to settle down with./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As George headed down, Isabella met him wearing a green curtle and her hair braided and a green coif on her head as the two headed to the door to see who was visiting them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Isabella, I want you to promise me that if this does not end well that you will take it with as much grace as is possible. Can you promise me that." George said and asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You need not doubt me father." Isabella said, confident as ever./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Now, let us get this done, my doe." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When the door opened, George and Isabella saw a man with brown hair, tan skin, and blue eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Good day. Welcome to the Toles' residence. Your name, young man."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am Orlando Billen, sir."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Come. I shall make some coffee while we talk."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once everyone was seated, they were served tea imported from Japan./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I actually built this home myself." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""As I am only a wool merchant, I have never traveled further than between Hampshire and Newcastle. What stories can you tell me of your travels, kind sir?" Orlando asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I travel along the eastern sea lanes. My contract is with our merchants in Japan."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How do you find them?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I find them intriguing. When you first land, it is almost like an unknown world."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hearing the words "unknown world" caused Isabella's mind to sail off into the unknown. Even though Isabella recalled what her mother said, she still felt as though there was something out there to explore. While Orlando was indeed dashing, some part of her hoped that something would happen that would make it seem that England simply was not the country for her. While she loved Hampshire and England in its entirety wholeheartedly, she still hoped that, even if they married, Orlando would support her, no matter what. However, she knew that she would not know how Orlando would feel about it until (or if) they were wed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Eventually, the talks at last came to a close, with the final decision yet to be divulged. George had a somewhat confident look in his eyes, as he always did every time there was a choice taken that was a great risk, with marriage being the greatest risk game in the world, for whatever the outcome may be, for better or worse, will affect the whole family in some way. Isabella only hoped that, once they sat down for dinner, the news would be good./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Eventually, the time came and father and daughter were having trout and lamb for dinner, as that was Louise's favourite./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What did he say, father?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That he would ponder a marriage with you, as there are apparently quite a few others who wish for him to take their daughters hand in marriage. However, he /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"did/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" show hints that it may be you he chooses. Unfortunately, we cannot be assured he will pick you. I do not doubt you, my daughter, but it is not only the father of the daughter that has the last decision on the acceptance or refusal of the engagement, but the father of the son. While Orlando looks a good man, we cannot be sure he will choose /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"you/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Isabella, as he may find another more suited to his liking, or his father will decide against us."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But surely Orlando would speak up, father?" Isabella asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Decisions such as this affect not only the potential wife and husband, but the families of the husband and wife as well. If Orlando's family decides that there are better options for him, then there is a high chance that they will have Orlando choose said other wife. I will not have you running around trying to ensure that it is you he chooses, but I still pray that the family /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"does/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" decide to choose you, daughter."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Me too, father."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"3 weeks later, Orlando returned with a grim look on his face; the look one has when they prepare to announce an unfortunate occurrence. Deciding to brace herself for whatever foreboding statement her father had to make./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am most aggrieved to tell you, daughter," George said, "that Orlando's family has demanded he give his hand to another. Fear though not, my daughter, for I am certain the right man may yet be found."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father," Isabella said, "Queen Elizabeth favored the seafarer Walter Raleigh, though he was not a noble."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes. Why say you this? I hope not that I need be concerned." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Enticing as many men of England appear, I almost have this sense." Isabella replied./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What sense be that?" George asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That God has not granted me a husband because I am destined to marry a man from beyond the seas."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What mean you by this?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, have you ever imagined searching abroad for the woman you seek?" Isabella asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It is true, I was very near to believing the lady for me was not to be found in England, yet I remained adamant that I would find she that is meant for me."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, would you call me a disappointment if I /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"were/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" to find that my husband-to-be is not of England?" Isabella asked nervously./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"With a sigh, George smiled and said, "The only way such a choice would disappoint me is if I believed that the man you desired had good characters that I felt to be false. As long as the man you desire is a true and genuine man, not a monster disguised, whomever you marry will be welcomed as a son."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I thank you, father." Isabella said, her graceful expression of a lady thinly hiding the girl-like giddiness she was fiercely attempting (and barely managing) to conceal./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"With a kiss on the cheek exchanged between father and daughter, the two retired for the night./spanspan id="docs-internal-guid-5f80c5b4-7fff-40f1-d87c-c581aad2b292"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As George headed down, Isabella met him wearing a green curtle and her hair braided and a green coif on her head as the two headed to the door to see who was visiting them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Isabella, I want you to promise me that if this does not end well that you will take it with as much grace as is possible. Can you promise me that." George said and asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You need not doubt me father." Isabella said, confident as ever./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Now, let us get this done, my doe." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When the door opened, George and Isabella saw a man with brown hair, tan skin, and blue eyes./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Good day. Welcome to the Toles' residence. Your name, young man."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am Orlando Billen, sir."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Come. I shall make some coffee while we talk."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once everyone was seated, they were served tea imported from Japan./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I actually built this home myself." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""As I am only a wool merchant, I have never traveled further than between Hampshire and Newcastle. What stories can you tell me of your travels, kind sir?" Orlando asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I travel along the eastern sea lanes. My contract is with our merchants in Japan."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""How do you find them?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I find them intriguing. When you first land, it is almost like an unknown world."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hearing the words "unknown world" caused Isabella's mind to sail off into the unknown. Even though Isabella recalled what her mother said, she still felt as though there was something out there to explore. While Orlando was indeed dashing, some part of her hoped that something would happen that would make it seem that England simply was not the country for her. While she loved Hampshire and England in its entirety wholeheartedly, she still hoped that, even if they married, Orlando would support her, no matter what. However, she knew that she would not know how Orlando would feel about it until (or if) they were wed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Eventually, the talks at last came to a close, with the final decision yet to be divulged. George had a somewhat confident look in his eyes, as he always did every time there was a choice taken that was a great risk, with marriage being the greatest risk game in the world, for whatever the outcome may be, for better or worse, will affect the whole family in some way. Isabella only hoped that, once they sat down for dinner, the news would be good./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Eventually, the time came and father and daughter were having trout and lamb for dinner, as that was Louise's favourite./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What did he say, father?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That he would ponder a marriage with you, as there are apparently quite a few others who wish for him to take their daughters hand in marriage. However, he /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"did/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" show hints that it may be you he chooses. Unfortunately, we cannot be assured he will pick you. I do not doubt you, my daughter, but it is not only the father of the daughter that has the last decision on the acceptance or refusal of the engagement, but the father of the son. While Orlando looks a good man, we cannot be sure he will choose /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"you/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Isabella, as he may find another more suited to his liking, or his father will decide against us."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""But surely Orlando would speak up, father?" Isabella asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Decisions such as this affect not only the potential wife and husband, but the families of the husband and wife as well. If Orlando's family decides that there are better options for him, then there is a high chance that they will have Orlando choose said other wife. I will not have you running around trying to ensure that it is you he chooses, but I still pray that the family /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"does/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" decide to choose you, daughter."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Me too, father."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"3 weeks later, Orlando returned with a grim look on his face; the look one has when they prepare to announce an unfortunate occurrence. Deciding to brace herself for whatever foreboding statement her father had to make./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am most aggrieved to tell you, daughter," George said, "that Orlando's family has demanded he give his hand to another. Fear though not, my daughter, for I am certain the right man may yet be found."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father," Isabella said, "Queen Elizabeth favored the seafarer Walter Raleigh, though he was not a noble."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Yes. Why say you this? I hope not that I need be concerned." George said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Enticing as many men of England appear, I almost have this sense." Isabella replied./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What sense be that?" George asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""That God has not granted me a husband because I am destined to marry a man from beyond the seas."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What mean you by this?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, have you ever imagined searching abroad for the woman you seek?" Isabella asked./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""It is true, I was very near to believing the lady for me was not to be found in England, yet I remained adamant that I would find she that is meant for me."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Father, would you call me a disappointment if I /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"were/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" to find that my husband-to-be is not of England?" Isabella asked nervously./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"With a sigh, George smiled and said, "The only way such a choice would disappoint me is if I believed that the man you desired had good characters that I felt to be false. As long as the man you desire is a true and genuine man, not a monster disguised, whomever you marry will be welcomed as a son."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I thank you, father." Isabella said, her graceful expression of a lady thinly hiding the girl-like giddiness she was fiercely attempting (and barely managing) to conceal./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Cambria, serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"With a kiss on the cheek exchanged between father and daughter, the two retired for the night./spanspan id="docs-internal-guid-5f80c5b4-7fff-40f1-d87c-c581aad2b292"/span/p