Page 16 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Forgive me, my lady. But I don’t understand,” she said.
“Allow me to explain. Being the wife of an earl is certainly a better option than struggling financially and worrying about your sisters. So my proposition to you is that you and my grandson, the Earl of Glauston, wed one another,” she said, laying it out more clearly.
For Olivia, it was still very unclear. “Why would you wish formeto be his wife and what would possibly make him wish to marry me?” she asked.
“Well, my dear, I have met many people in my life. I have seen those who are honest and those who are dishonest. I can tell a genuine, kind person. You are one of those. As I said, I know very little about you. But you leave me with a peace of mind. And that is the sort that I wish for my grandson,” she replied.
But as Olivia felt she was meant to respond, the dowager continued. “I am old, and I should like to do something to better a life before I leave this world. That would be a preferable legacy to one of riches and wealth. I understand that it would be difficult for you to trust me. I am a stranger, after all. But I guarantee you that my grandson is a good man and there is nothing else for me to say on the matter,” she remarked.
“I…I could use some time to think about it,” Olivia replied, keeping the promise she made to her father.
“I imagine so. Please send me a letter of reply when you are ready,” she instructed.
Olivia nodded, realising that it was certainly time for her to depart. She stood to leave and hesitated for a moment. But without another thought, she left.
The confusion of the outrageous proposal was overwhelming. But what could she do? She needed to give her sisters a better life and here was a chance for that. Of course, that chance included marrying a man she didn’t even know. But the vast majority of women were not afforded the opportunity to marry a man they knew. It was usually an arranged match.
When she reached her home, Olivia was exhausted and fell into bed. Nevertheless, her thoughts would not afford her any rest. When her father asked about the meeting, she told him that the woman was seeking a friend in her old age and nothing more.
What Olivia knew for certain was that Eliza Kirby understood an opportunity. And a young woman who wanted to take care of her family would have no choice in letting go of a chance to change their future.
Chapter 9
“You have promised me to a woman without even letting me know first?” Nathaniel demanded angrily. He could hardly imagine that this was happening.
“I knew that she would be the easier one to handle,” his grandmother replied dryly.
“How could you do this?” he asked.
“You need to be married,” she insisted.
“No, Grandmother. This is not an issue of my needing to urgently marry, can’t you see that? You have completely taken away all my choice in the matter. Did you not say that you wanted me to choose?” he asked.
“You must see this choice, Nathaniel. This is a young woman who belongs in our family and I have no doubt that you shall fall in love with her the moment you lay eyes upon her,” the dowager insisted.
“How can you say that? I am not looking for a woman who I can merely appreciate for her beauty. If I were, then I should not have ended my engagement. I cannot believe that you would do this!” he scolded, raising his voice despite himself.
It was not good that he should speak to her thus, but Nathaniel could not believe that his grandmother had behaved in such a way. How could she have done all of this and caused him to be engaged without his knowledge? How could she have encouraged him against an arranged marriage only to arrange another?
“I understand that you are upset, Nathaniel. And I understand why. But know that what I have done is the best thing for you and you shall realise that in time. I promise you, this is a good thing,” she insisted.
“I cannot see how it is good. I cannot imagine what was going on in your mind when you decided to take control of my future like this despite the fact that you had so encouraged me to make my own decision in this regard,” he continued.
Nathaniel was shocked when Lady Kirby had told him that she had found him a wife and that, if the young woman agreed, all would be arranged immediately. He had never anticipated something so ridiculous from his grandmother.
“I have never even heard of this woman that you have chosen for me. I know nothing about her. I do not want her, can’t you see that?” he asked.
“And you will do as I say!” she yelled, suddenly, standing to her feet.
Nathaniel stepped back, surprised by her sudden passion.
“I shall not be spoken to like this in my own home and you shall not disregard my decision. I have made the right choice for you. Whether you can see it or not, I have done what you could not do on your own, made a decision that you could not make. And you shall follow through with it, regardless of your pride,” she spat.
He wanted to respond, but hesitated, frightened to speak further and knowing it would not go well for him if he did.
“You will do this for me and one day you will recognise that it was the right decision. I don’t care if you can’t see it now. You will eventually. One day, you will know that I have made this decision for the sake of our family,” she continued, her breathing getting more and more strained from the efforts.
“Of course, everyone’s decisions are better than leaving me to my own,” he said bitterly, quietly.
