by Aria Norton
“Is it so wrong to remain unmarried? Do I cost my father too much to keep me at home? I do not mind working for my keep.”
Perhaps if she showed him that she could cook, clean, and essentially do everything a servant does, he might allow her to stay. No, she doubted that. Her father had never wanted her, and now he had the opportunity to get rid of her for good.
“Well, I won’t simply accept everything they throw at me.”
Starting now. Aurora decided that the best thing to do was go back to her father’s study and let them have a piece of her mind. Drawing a deep breath, she expelled it slowly before rushing out of her room before she lost her nerve. Shouting at them just now had come about as a result of shock. Now, she needed courage for round two.
Heading back to the study, she wondered if the merchant had left yet. It would be best if he did! I do not wish to have him anywhere near me. She didn’t bother knocking but opened the door widely, her eyes falling on the merchant.
“You are still here?”
“Please, Aurora–” her father began.
“Oh, no, Father. You cannot expect me to simply accept whatever it is that you are discussing here. This is my life, and you lost the right to it the day you walked away from me.”
“I do not think that fair,” the merchant commented.
She had been calm and collected when she had entered the room, intending to speak sense into her father, but something about this man riled her up. What does he know about my life? Did he think that he would come here and start dictating it?
“Who are you to even speak to me?” she demanded of him. “I would not be in this position if you had never come here to disrupt my life. Why will you not leave?”
“You cannot ask your husband-to-be to leave the room,” said her father.
Her temper was one of the things she needed to work on, but not today. Aurora felt an explosion within at her father’s statement, one driven by equal amounts of fear and anger.
“How can you force me into something I do not want?”
“It’s for the best–”
“For whose best, Father?” she interrupted. “Who will benefit from this deal? Are you exporting me to this man? Am I a business deal?”
“Aurora,” the merchant called. “Do not–”
She lifted her hand. “I do not wish to hear your voice, nor do I wish to see you. Why will you not leave? No, do not answer that. ’Tis clear that you will gain something from this marriage. What is it? I heard you talk about wanting to marry into a good family, but I do not believe a second of it. There are plenty of common women who are far kinder, loving, and giving than I am, who would make wonderful wives and mothers. If not common women, why not the gentry? They have some status in society, and many have wonderful families with good lineage. You could have considered these options, but you did not. Why? Why specifically a nobleman’s daughter, Mr Fernandez? Particularly a woman who has made it clear that she does not wish to marry anyone?”
She watched the man’s cheeks colour slightly, but whether it was out of shame or anger, she didn’t know. What use is it speaking to him? He cannot do anything unless my father agrees to it. The main culprit was her father.
“This is a dishonour to my mother’s memory,” she told her father.
Aurora felt some remorse as she watched her father’s jaw slacken and his eyes fill with pain, but she could not weaken her resolve to make him see what a terrible thing he was doing. She needed to feed on her anger, or she would never say what weighed heavily on her heart. There were words she had never spoken aloud in his presence, but today they would spill out of her.
“What would my mother say if she knew that you are forcing me to marry just to take me off your hands? Would you have done this had she lived?”
“You don’t understand,” he said weakly.
“No! ’Tis you who do not understand, Father. I lived without my own family’s love for all my life because you did not want me. I did not realise that a father ignoring his daughter’s presence was not normal until my fourteenth year. Was it not enough that I lost my mother, only to lose my father as well? I have never known the love of a parent, but I thank the Lord that you had the good sense to give me to the servants, or I might have grown up starved for love and attention.”
Her father bowed his head, turning his body a little away from them. If shame was currently eating him up inside, then so be it. Perhaps it will put some sense into him.
“When did you decide that you had a daughter, Father? Or, rather, when did you realise that I existed? Was it that day you called me by my mother’s name?” she asked, uttering a harsh laugh. “Yes, I would say so. I do resemble my mother greatly, do I not? I suppose you used that against me?”
Her father didn’t lift his head. Nanny had once told her that her mother had been her father’s greatest love, and losing her had affected him deeply. I must be causing him pain, but I do not understand why he chooses to inflict pain on me as well.
“The truth of the matter is that you never loved me because, in part, you blamed me for my mother’s death. I have come to accept that I will never be a daughter in the truest sense, but what I cannot understand is why you have chosen this time in my life to act like a father and marry me off to a foolish man who is clearly touched in his upper works if he believes that I shall consent to this marriage?”
“Touched in my upper works?” the merchant repeated. “Interesting.”
Now, if that was not condescending–! “Hold your tongue, Mr Fernandez.”
She wanted go further and lash out at the merchant, but try as she might, the fire she had had burning within her when she entered the room had gone out. It seemed that speaking her heart to her father had freed something within her, and now she only felt spent. She could only huff and puff her annoyance as she glared at the men, daring them to say anything against her. While her father continued to hang his head in what she assumed was shame, the merchant seemed somewhat amused.
“You surely are a spitfire, Aurora,” he commented. “I do not know whether to admire you or condemn your actions.”
“Condemn me? You do not have the right to do so, sir. However, what else can I expect from a man? I believed that the common man was better than the rest because he experienced more of life – the good, the terrible, and the mundane. Men of my class tend to live lives rarely touched by the problems that plague the greater masses. Well, unless they make decisions that land them in the bog, then they can only blame themselves, yes? But you, Mr Fernandez, have proven my belief wrong. You are just as detestable as the men my father associates with. You wish to climb the social ladder by marrying me, am I correct? It has absolutely nothing to do with good lineage and pleasing morals. No wonder my father has agreed to this marriage – you are very much alike!”
The impudent man only leaned further into his chair, a little smile playing about his lips. Do none of my words affect him? He will prove challenging to drive away, but I shall do all that I can to do so.
“My Lord?” he said.
He father slowly looked up, wariness in his eyes. “I suppose you wish to cancel this agreement? I would understand if you did.”
The merchant shook his head. “Not at all, Lord Leeds. Rest assured that I still wish to marry your daughter. I only wished to ask how soon we can be married.”
Aurora’s mouth gaped. “What? Are you mad?”
“I do sometimes wonder if I am entirely sane, particularly regarding the risks I take when choosing to take a certain business route, but I find that my risks always yield great success in the long run. I have a good feeling about this marriage, even if you do not.”
“A good feeling?”
Aurora palmed her face, looking away from the man. What was wrong with him? He appears unmoved by my tirade of words. Unless he is hiding his true feelings? She gave him a side glance, looking to see evidence of displeasure. She found none, only that damnable amusement on his face. It’s a handsome face, al
most too pretty. I know of women who would give their bottom row of teeth to have him pay attention to them, but he seems set on disturbing my life. I cannot marry a man like this, nor any other man for that matter.
“Are you quite done observing me?” he asked. “There are still some things I wish to discuss with your father if you do not mind.”
“I do mind!” she spat back. “If you mean to discuss the wedding, then I suggest you forget about it. It will not take place.”
“And I say it will. You will come around soon enough once you understand that your future will entail being beside me as my wife.”
“The Hades I will!”
“Aurora!” her father scolded.
Oh, so now he wishes to open his mouth? “No, Father. This man needs to be put in his place. You always proclaim that the lower and upper classes should be kept separate, or does that not apply to merchants?”
“We would not be in this situation had you listened to me and married one of the suitors I brought to you.”
Aurora could not believe her father. “Am I to blame for everything? Are you not the one intent on marrying me off? Are you not aware that I am against marriage?”
Her father sighed. “You are too young to understand that this is necessary, but you will in time.”
“I am too young to understand, but I am old enough to be married? Does this argument make perfect sense to you, Father?”
“I shall teach you all you need to know,” the merchant cut in. “You needn’t fret about that.”
“Oh, how kind of you,” she said mockingly. “Not only do you wish to become my husband, but my teacher as well. I am certainly a fortunate woman, am I not?”
At that, the man laughed loud and true, throwing his head back. What was wrong with him? Perhaps he is insane, but he hides it well.
“I can see that I will never have a dull life once you become my wife. I don’t think that I have been as amused in the last few minutes compared to the rest of my life. My Lord, is she always this entertaining?”
Aurora’s hands fisted. She had no idea what to say in response and didn’t know if it was worth wasting her breath. Nothing she had said thus far had managed to hit its mark. I have only served to amuse and convince him that he will never live a dull existence. Most men would have run away at this point, but not this man. It was infuriating, to say the least.
There was no point in remaining in the room any longer, not when this man appeared to be besting her. Turning on her heel, she stalked away from them, slamming the door shut behind her.
“If he thinks he has won, then he had better think again. I never give up, not without a worthy fight.”
He was determined to marry her, and she was determined to throw him out of her life as soon as possible. And I shall do it. With that affirmation, she went in search of support.
Chapter 9
Carlos watched his wife-to-be leave the room, not giving anything away of what he was genuinely experiencing inside. He appeared amused on the outside as he felt that was the only way to handle the situation, but inside he was blown away by the Englishwoman. I have never in my life come across such a passionate woman! When did Englishwomen begin to have such fire within them? The woman’s behaviour was more suited to his people than the English!
However, for all his awe of her, he still had to consider the facts. If he did not manage to bridle her anger and prevent her from running away, then she would surely upset his plans. And that I cannot have. How was he going to avoid it, though? There was no telling what the woman was capable of. If she can throw caution to the wind and kick up such a raucous in the presence of both her father and a stranger, there is no telling the lengths she is willing to go to get her way.
Once they were married, he would be able to control her better as she wouldn’t be able to do anything without his consent, but at this present time, she was free to do whatever she pleased. If her father cannot control her, then I suppose I shall have to take measures to do so. Fortunately, he was just as determined to make her his wife and become part of the Stafford family.
“I am surprised that you have not yet run for the hills,” the baron said.
“’Tis far more interesting to be here, My Lord.”
“Interesting? Surely you jest!”
“Not at all. You daughter is merely high-spirited, but with age and direction from my mother, she will mellow.”
“I do not mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I highly doubt that you can change my daughter, Mr Fernandez. She is set on her beliefs and will allow no man to deter her.”
“Young women tend to believe that they are right, but once they experience more of the world, they soon realise that their opinions were wrong. I assure you that with time, your daughter will come to the same realisation. I have much patience to help her along.”
Did he? It was hard to tell at this stage, but he didn’t want the baron to doubt his ability to handle his daughter.
“You are a greater man than I. I have barely taken the time to understand my daughter, but you seem to have done that in less than a day. However, I must warn you not to let your guard down.”
No, he certainly could not do that. What if she indeed ran away? This land is big enough to hide a person who does not wish to be found.
“My Lord, may I make a suggestion?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I think it imperative that I take up temporary residence in your home – as a guest, of course. We will follow all manner of propriety concerning my betrothal to your daughter, but you can understand the fear of my bride suddenly disappearing before the wedding.”
The man nodded slowly, rubbing his chin. “I suppose that makes sense, but how are you to keep an eye on her? You do not know this house or land as well as she does. My daughter disappears for hours when foraging in the woods and knows it like the back of her hand. I have lived here my entire life, but I cannot boast as much knowledge about the land as she can.”
That would be a problem. Carlos was just one man; he would need an army of men to keep watch of the young woman.
“Would you permit me to bring some of my guards here? They will keep watch on her and inform me of her movements. If any of them feel that she intends to disappear, then they will inform me, and we can take necessary action.”
The Baron frowned. “Is that not terribly excessive? She is still my daughter, and I will not have her treated like a prisoner in her own home.”
I would rather she be treated like a prisoner if it means that I can keep her from escaping, but neither do I wish to scare her. There has to be a middle ground.
“Think of my guards as guardians – protectors, if you will. I will station men around the house, but I will have women who will double as servants in the house. Forgive me for saying this, but I do not think your servants will be reliable in keeping her out of mischief. If I have my own servants mingling with yours, we have a better chance of keeping an eye on her without invading her privacy. Surely a female servant will find favour in her eyes? She need not know that I have brought them here, only that you have hired them in preparation for our wedding.”
Tapping his finger on his desk, the baron appeared to mull over the plan. Just agree with me, old man. This is the only way to ensure that I marry your daughter. He could not miss this opportunity, or who knew when he might get such a chance to draw near to his father?
Finally, the man sighed, placing both palms on the desk. “What must be done must be done. Go ahead and make arrangements, Mr Fernandez. I shall inform my housekeeper to ready the east wing for you and ensure that my daughter always has a chaperone in your company. I do not wish people to start talking about her character as well, you understand. I’ll have Millicent ready rooms on the lower floor for your servants. How many do you intend to bring?”
