LOVED AND ACCEPTED

CHAPTER 1 CHOICES AND ULTIMATUMS

A/N This story started out as my submission for the Christmas Fan Fiction exchange. However, once the story began to be revealed, a much greater story began to unfold. One that couldn't be told in the short time frame allotted.

This story remains the original story but will continue. However, it is now a joint endeavor between myself and Melissa Atwood/Missela. A special thank you goes out to Amy Mefford/FnficJunkie for also being part of my collaboration. These ladies have brought me so much joy as we have worked on many of my stories. The many hours that we have spent together laughing over the perils of Elizabeth in Regrets to the numerous wood-chopping conversations, it has been a joy, and I look forward to many more.

As always, the characters are not mine and are the property of Janette Oke and Crown Media. This story is only intended for entertainment purposes and not for any monetary gain.

DEC 20,1909 ABERDEEN

Nathan Grant sat back from his desk and rubbed his tired eyes. He had been up all night with his 3-year-old niece Allie. Her nightmares were dwindling, but at times, they were worse than usual, resulting in her having to be rocked back to sleep. Since his mother had to take care of her during the day, it fell to him to take care of her at night. But it was only a matter of time before he and Allie would have to go to his new posting. Nathan expected the new orders to come within the next three months. For now, he had his mother, Moira, but she had responsibilities here in Aberdeen. He had been thinking more and more about the solution that Gabe had chosen. His mother was the one who suggested it to both men when other Mounties in the area began wanting wives before they headed to small towns or remote locations. Being a Mountie's wife required a particular type of woman, and Mrs. Catherine Hendricks, a former Mountie wife herself, had great success in making matches. Born into a wealthy family, she met and married a Mountie and followed him all over the frontier. Her matches were known to be happy ones, with all but one couple finding love. That couple, being much older and having lost their spouses, found a deep-abiding friendship and companion for their twilight years.

Gabe's match was a young nurse from Hamilton named Faith Carter. His friend had exchanged letters and talked a few times on the phone. All in all, it seemed as if they would be happy together. The other reason that he was thinking more about a mail-order bride was because of what happened four months ago with Alice. He had been courting her, but when she found out about Allie, she broke it off, unwilling to take on someone else's child. She also mentioned that her parents refused to let her marry a Mountie.

Nathan didn't think that he had another attempt at finding love in him. Maybe he wasn't meant to have a family. Gabe had told him it was good that he found out about her true character and her unwillingness to be a mother to Allie before they married.

Though it had been four months since it happened, the pain sometimes felt fresh. He had been about to pull out the ring at the table. A familiar pang came making his eyes glisten. Just as he closed his fingers around the box, she began to speak the words that would break his heart.

"Nathan, I have something to tell you. I know that you planned this evening to ask me to marry you, but I just can't. You are a good man and very handsome. However, our relationship isn't working for me anymore. You have Allie now, and I'm not ready to be a mother yet, especially to another woman's child." Alice said.

"What do you mean, Alice? I thought we were on the same page," Nathan said, pulling his hand out of his pocket.

"I realize now that I love you in the uniform, and I've developed feelings for someone else," Alice said. 'I'm so sorry about this, Nathan." Alice said, standing up and walking away, leaving him crushed. It hadn't been the first time that he had been given that speech about the Serge being the attraction, but he had thought Alice was different. With a heavy sigh, he stood up, grabbed his hat, and headed out on rounds. As he rode out of town, he wondered what it would be like to be loved and accepted for who he was, not because of what he wore or did for a living.

MEANWHILE IN HAMILTON

Elizabeth Thatcher had just walked in from having a celebratory lunch with her Aunt Agatha upon receiving her teacher's certificate. When she arrived, their family butler, Thompson, informed her that her father had left instructions for her to come to his office. With some trepidation, she approached the large dark wooden doors and knocked softly. Hearing her father say enter, she walked in and saw that he was in his chair with his back to her.

"Father, you sent for me?" Elizabeth asked nervously.

"Ah yes, Elizabeth," he said, turning around in his chair to look at her. "I wanted to tell you that Phillip Carrington has asked for my blessing for your hand."

"But Father, I barely know him. While we have gone on a few dates with Julie and Charles, I wouldn't say the interactions would warrant such a conversation." Elizabeth said, clearly confused by the conversation currently in progress.

"You have known each other since you were children, and their family is close friends of ours. What is there to know about him?" her father replied, brushing her off. Elizabeth was becoming irritated because he wasn't even paying attention to her but rather working on some papers.

"Father, we may know each other, but I assure you there has never been even a hint of a romantic attachment or conversation between Phillip and me. Something that should be in existence before he would ever have approached you. I hope you told him how inappropriate that was?" Elizabeth said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

"On the contrary, I gave it to him," William said flatly. "Our two families joining will be the match of the season. It's a perfect combination of two Hamilton society families. I daresay it will be an even more splendid match than either of your sisters will have pulled off. You should be happy to be able to make your parents proud. I venture to say that your wedding to Phillip will be the match of the decade."

Taking Elizabeth's silence for agreement, he continued as if it were a done deal.

"I've already spoken to your mother and his parents. We plan on announcing the engagement at the New Year's Eve party. Phillip and his family will join us on the 26th and remain until after the New Year's party. On the evening, they arrive, we will have the formal engagement, where he will present the ring and the celebratory dinner afterward. Then the announcement will be made at the party, as I stated before."

Before Elizabeth could say a word, her mother and sister Viola rushed in. "Oh, did you tell her, William?"

Elizabeth stood there in shock at what was being proposed. Could it have only been an hour ago that she was happily discussing finding a teaching position with her aunt? Like her father, her mother took that silence from Elizabeth as an agreement. Her mother engulfed her in a hug. "Oh, my dear, I am so happy for you."

Then stepping back, Grace said, "William, we must arrange for a photographer to capture the engagement and do the photos for the paper."

Elizabeth had had enough, "STOP! ALL OF YOU!"

The room went quiet as they were shocked by her reaction. "Elizabeth Grace Thatcher!" her mother said. "How dare you raise your voice to us like that."

"I'm sorry, mother; however, you seem to be under the impression that I agree with the proposal." Rushing on before she could be interrupted, she looked at her father. "Father, I'm sorry, but I have no intention of marrying Phillip Carrington or anyone else simply for the sake of combining families. I would never consider accepting a proposal from a man who had proposed through my father. Though my name is Elizabeth, this isn't a scene from Pride and Prejudice, and you are most certainly not Lady Catherine. I will not marry for the sake of making an alliance, nor can you accept someone on my behalf." Elizabeth said.

Seeing that her mother intended to interrupt, Elizabeth quickly said, "I have spoken on more than one occasion of my desire to teach underprivileged children. In fact, I have just received my certificate and plan to secure a teaching position as soon as possible. That is one thing that I know about Phillip, he would not tolerate a wife to work. No offense to either Mother or my sisters, but I have no desire to be a society matron.

Elizabeth Grace Thatcher!" William roared. "That is enough, young lady. I will not tolerate your blatant disrespect any longer. You were raised from birth to take your proper place in society and be a dutiful and honorable wife. Someone that could strengthen our good name in society and further connections."

"Father, are you even listening to yourself? You have always known that I want to be a teacher and help those that truly don't have the same advantages that those in large cities have here in Hamilton." Elizabeth said, trying to keep her temper in check.

Her Father walked up to her and said, "This discussion is closed, Elizabeth. We will be announcing your engagement at our New Years' Eve Ball. Now you have some time to get used to it, and Phillip and Charles will be here in a few hours to take you and Julie to dinner and the Opera. I suggest that you use the next few hours to resign yourself to what will be."

Then he moved to walk out the door, but Elizabeth wasn't finished. "I'm sorry, Father, but I will not attend anything with Phillip, nor will I attend the New Year's Eve Party."

He turned back to her and said, "You will either graciously attend the New Year's Ball on the arm of your fiancé, Elizabeth, or I will disinherit you." William said.

"Father!" Elizabeth said in shock, "You are giving me an ultimatum? I either marry whom you choose, or I have to leave home? Is that what you are telling me?" Looking into her father's eyes, she could see that he was indeed serious. She shifted her gaze to the floor, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes or the tears welling up.

"William, are you out of your mind," Grace said. "You cannot be serious."

Looking at his wife and oldest daughter, he said, "I am completely serious. She will either go along with this marriage and appear at the Ball or be disinherited and have to fend for herself." Then he stepped around his wife and daughters and proceeded to the door.

He looked back at his daughter and said, "I will give you until the 26th to think about your options Elizabeth. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have important matters to handle at my club." Walking out the door, he saw that his youngest daughter Julie was outside the door and had heard everything. As he left, William wondered if he was out of his mind, but he had no choice. As her father, it was his job to ensure that Elizabeth was well provided for and not let her heart overrule what was proper and good for her. His middle daughter didn't understand what it would be like to fend for herself, and he hoped she wouldn't call his bluff.

IN ANOTHER PART OF TOWN

Catherine Hendricks was sitting in the drawing room of her dear friend Agatha catching up. The two women had been friends since they were little girls. Neither woman cared about the trappings of society and married happily, though, by society's standards, they married below their station. Catherine had chosen to marry a Mountie, while Agatha had married an attorney. They were now widowed but were fortunate enough to have the money to live quite well. By Hamilton's standards, they were considered wealthy, so their "errors in judgment" were overlooked, not that either lady cared.

"So, Catherine, how is the marriage business going?" Agatha said teasingly.

"Agatha! Really?" Catherine chuckled, "I'll have you know that I am providing a service. I'm not even getting paid to do it. I'm simply matching one need with another who can fulfill it. Most of the matches I have made have become love matches."

"I know, dear, but I can't help teasing you. At least your matches have choices." Agatha said. Both women were thinking about how society viewed women of society. Most were quite willing to go along with society's edicts, but occasionally there would be one who didn't.

"How is Elizabeth?" Catherine asked. "Did she get her teacher's certificate?"

Agatha smiled. "She did. In fact, we had lunch earlier today to celebrate it. Unfortunately, I don't think it will do her any good."

"You think William and Grace will be the typical society parents?" Catherine asked with a frown. "I can't see that Elizabeth would be willing to go along with them." Of all the girls that called her aunt, Elizabeth Thatcher was one that Catherine held close to her heart. In her marriage, she and her husband had not been blessed with children. So Elizabeth was as close as a daughter to her, and she hated the idea that the girl could be forced into a societal marriage.