Betrothed

Chapter 12: Allie

As soon as I wake up in the morning I remember my meeting today. How could I forget? Today I am to meet Lord Thomas Langley, a man who my father wants me to marry. This is a day that I have been dreading since my 13th birthday, when my father first started talking about marriage. I cannot just stay in my room and hide though, even if I want to, because if I am not up and ready by the time Thomas gets here at 10:00 then my father will come in here and drag me out of bed. So I get up and go through the motions of preparing for the day. By the time I come downstairs for breakfast, in my long light blue gown and slippers, a guard informs me that Lord Thomas is already here and in the library with my father. I head strait there instead of eating because I do not think that I could stomach much right now anyways.

I walk into the castle's majestic library to find my father sitting in front of the fireplace on one of the big comfortable chairs. Seated across from him is a young man with pale blond hair. I recognize him after a second with surprise; this was the man who interrupted my dance in my dream a few days past. The one who called me his betrothed. Both of the men stand up when I enter.

"Sorry if I am interrupting father, one of the guards just told me that you were in here with some company." I addressed my father while trying to sneak a glance at this mysterious man from my dream. How could I have dreamed about Lord Thomas before?"

"You are not interrupting at all my dear." He replied and I inwardly cringe, so now he wants to play the loving father role. He then turned to the other man in the room, "Lord Thomas may I present my daughter Alyssa. Alyssa this is Lord Thomas Langley." I walk over as would be expected and hold out my hand.

"It is a pleasure to meet you My Lord." I say as he takes my hand and places a kiss upon it.

"And you as well My Lady." He replied cordially.

"Well then this is lovely." My father cuts in before I can reply to Lord Thomas. "How about we all sit down and discuss terms." I follow the men back over to the sitting area and sit lightly in one of the lavish chairs.

"Lord Maxwell, you have a beautiful daughter here. My family and I will be more than able to provide for Alyssa and offer support for you as well." Lord Thomas says with a glance at me.

"Thank you. That is all very good Lord Thomas. Our families would be valuable allies to one another. We shall provide a fair dowry as well, say 200 pounds?" It bothers me how my father and Lord Thomas are talking about me as if I am not sitting right here and how they are making this sound more like a business transaction than a marriage proposal. As if my future is just money and alliances.

"I would say that is fair. So it is an agreed betrothal then Sir?" Lord Thomas asks and I cast a nervous glance at my father. I know that he will say yes.

"Yes Lord Thomas you have yourself a betrothed in Alyssa." My father replied to him. His response enrages me. Just like that I am going to be married to this man and yet I know nothing about him or his life. My father did not even give me time to have a conversation with my future husband to see if I can grow to love him or even like him. "Alyssa do you have anything to add?" My father asks, turning to me. I think that he was expecting me to say no, but I am not going to let my future be entirely decided for me so I speak anyways.

"Yes actually father. Lord Thomas, I would like to be able to continue my hobby of painting in marriage, would you allow that?" I ask with a slight bit of sarcasm in my voice, I should not have to ask for permission to continue my hobbies but it is better to get that out into the open now. "Also I would like to be able to invite friends over when I please."

"Those are excellent terms, my love." Said Thomas in reply. "Of course you will be able to paint and entertain friends."

"Thank you My Lord." I say politely. After that Thomas turns to my father.

"It was a pleasure Lord Maxwell. I shall see you soon,” They shake hands, he then turns to me and kisses my hand like he did earlier. " And you as well my love. Until then." He said and he left. After he exits the door I turn to my father.

"Father may I be excused?"

"Certainly my dear and congratulations on your betrothal." I nod my head in thanks in favor of responding and leave strait down to the kitchen. When I get down the Nikki is kneading dough for bread, though she looks up when she hears me come down.

"So how was the meeting with Lord Langley?" She asked.

"Well, you are looking at the new face of betrothal." I tell her, and not too excitedly.

"You are betrothed! After just one meeting?" She exclaims in disbelief.

"My father works fast." I tell her. She runs over and gives me a hug, getting bread flour all over my light blue gown.

"Congratulations Allie!" She says.

"Thank you I suppose. I just wish that I was as happy about this as everyone else is." I reply with a sigh.