Betrothed

Chapter 6: Allie

A little while later Maddie walks into my bedroom.

"Allie" She says. "Nikki told me about the plan and what she knew of what happened. Are you okay?"

"Not really. We should go down to Nikki's room." With that we both leave the room and go down the two flights of stairs to get to the servant level and then down the long hallway that leads to Nikki's room. She opened the door on the first knock and we entered the room. She closed the door as we sat down on the bed.

"Okay Allie, are you ready to tell us what happened?" Nikki asks. I nod and tell them the whole story.

***

I knock on the door to my father's study. One of the guards had told me that he wanted to see me.

“Come in" I hear him say. I open the door very nervously, who knew what sort of mood he was in today.

"Father?" I say, cautiously. "You wanted to speak with me."

"Oh good Alyssa you are here. Close the door and sit down." I close the door and go to sit in the one of the lavish chairs in front of his desk.

"I wanted to speak to you about marriage. Since you just turned fifteen I believe that it is time we found you a husband and get you settled down." I start to get nervous; my father has talked to me before about finding a husband but I have always disagreed, preferring to find true love instead. I look away as he continues.

"I have found a young man who I believe to be a very eligible suitor. His name is Lord Thomas Langley, the Earl of Guilford. His father is Lord Martin Langley, the Marquess of Huntley, who is a very high ranking official in His Majesty's court. I have arranged for you to meet with him in two days' time."

"But father, I have told you before, I want to find real love and marry for that."

"Alyssa," He says. "Think of the family. Marrying Thomas would align us with a very influential and powerful family. It would be very beneficial."

"But father I really do not want to ..." I start but am interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in" My father says. In walks Nikki, holding a tray with tea and scones, she sets them down on the desk. My father looks at the tray and nods, "That will be all Nicole." He waves his hand towards the door, "You are dismissed." I see Nikki curtsy and our eyes meet, I can see encouragement in hers.

"Alyssa!" My father says rather sharply, I jerk back to attention and turn to look at him in response. Out of the corner of my eye I see Nikki leave. My father gets up, goes over and locks the door. "You really think that I care what you want." He says as he walks back over to me. Once he is right in front of me he slaps me hard across my face. I gasp in surprise, I always do. It is not that I do not expect it; it is that I can never tell when exactly it is coming. As I move my hand up to cover my cheek where he hit it he grabs my arms and pulls me up out of the chair. He shakes me violently.

"I am your father Alyssa; you will do as I say! And I say that you will meet here with Thomas in two days’ time. If all goes well you will marry Thomas and you will like it. And even if you do not like it you will still marry him anyway. In two days when Thomas visits you will be polite, you will not speak out of line, and you will do anything he asks of you." I can feel him starting to leave bruises on my arms. "Am I understood?" I nod my head yes, not trusting my voice to say it for me. "Speak!" He commands and shakes me again.

"Yes Sir." I say as I avert my eyes downwards, showing submission. He releases me and I step away.

"Good, now scurry along I have work to do." He waves his hand in dismissal. I just nod and exit, closing the door as I do so. I have to see Nikki and Maddie. I think as I start to feel tears threatening to spill over.

***

I see the look on their faces as I finish telling them what happened. They both read the same, horror and sorrow.

"Oh, Allie." Says Maddie, "I am so sorry. You do not deserve to be treated like that and no girl deserves to be forced into a loveless marriage." I look at her and nod with tears still flowing freely down my face.

"This is not right." Nikki adds, "At the orphanage we were not treated well but at least our own parents did not beat us. Allie, I am so sorry."

"Well at least maybe Lord Thomas will be a gentleman and will treat me with respect rather than abuse me." I try to put a positive spin on this. Nikki and Maddie nod in agreement.

"Let us hope so." Says Nikki. We are interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. "Hold on a moment ladies." Nikki tells us, "Let me see if they are coming for me." With that she slips out of the room.