Chapter 9
1288 Words
Cecilia
Sophie held my hand as I made my way down the stairs. She gave me an encouraging smile and a gentle squeeze.
“You’re going to be just fine my lady,” she said cheerfully.
I shook my head and took deep breaths. “No. No I can’t. Leon’s parents are here and I can’t bear that.”
Barley in the morning we received a letter from Leon’s father telling us he and his wife would be joining us for dinner. This has sprung Leon into a frenzy and he was barking orders at everyone. He needed the house cleaned twice, had 6 rooms prepared so that his father had multiple to choose from, had all the servants bathe and change their clothes three times and he had sent me to my room.
“You can’t be in my way today Cecilia! Go to your room and put yourself together before my father arrives!” He had shouted.
And although I hated when he told me what to do, what to wear and what to say..I actually desired that at the moment. His parents had only spoken to me once and that was at the wedding. All I remembered was that his father was just as intense as Leon and his wife was silent and observant. So I had gone to Leon’s room asking for guidance.
“What do you want Cecilia? Get out of my face.” He shouted. Then when I didn’t he looked at me and his nostrils flared. “WHY AREN’T YOU DRESSED AND READY??”
I stood at his door glaring at him. “I came to ask what you would like me to wear and how to do my hair. You always do this and now when your parents are coming you decide to leave me in the dark??”
Leon took deep breaths and then barked his orders at me and Sophie who kept her eyes down and only nodded repeatedly.
Now as I walked down the steps I wore a dark red dress with white lace on the sleeves and skirts, ruby earrings and necklace Leon had purchased that day, and my hair was up and out of my face with ruby pins holding it back. I felt like I was drowning in red and my head hurt from the pins but I wouldn’t dare complain today. As we approached the dining room Sophie gave me one more encouraging smile.
“Everything will be fine my lady.”
“What if they hate me as much as he does?” I asked frozen in fear.
She shook her head. “Not possible. Plus, they’ll approve of you more than they’ll ever approve of me.”
I looked at her in confusion and was about to speak when the doors to the dining room opened and Leon stood from his chair. His father too stood and studied me with his grey eyes as Leon led me to my seat at the far end of the table as usual. Leon’s Father was an older, yet identical, version of Leon. They shared the height, eyes, scowl and cruel intensity. As I sat down I caught a glimpse of Leon’s mother, a small woman with light brown hair and brown eyes. She frowned when we made eye contact and my stomach dropped.
Well this was going to go just great
***
“Do you play the piano forte?” Leon’s father asked me in a harsh tone. “Or sing? Or ride a horse exceptionally well?”
I took a deep breath and mustered a smile. “I’m learning piano my lord. And I’m adequate at the other two.”
His nostrils flared and he turned to Leon. “This is who you bring into the family?” His face hardened even more. “Do you take pride in bringing shame to everything I’ve done for you for you to wed a mediocre woman?”
Leon gritted his teeth but didn’t say anything. I felt my face go hot from both embarrassment and anger. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I didn’t know what to do or say, so all I did was look at my food. The rest of the meal continued with Leon’s father asking Leon and I questions but disapproving each answer so he’d begin to yell. And the entire time I felt Leon’s mother’s eyes on me.
I wanted to disappear. So when the meal was over and Leon excused me from the table, I eagerly stood, bowed and bid everyone a good night. I walked carefully and calmly out of the dining hall but basically ran up the stairs to my room. Sophie was already waiting there for me with wide eyes. I frantically pulled at my dress, my hair and my ears trying to get everything off of me. I felt like I was going crazy under the clothes, the jewels and couldn’t stop hearing Leon’s father insults in my head. He had insulted my height, my weight, my hair and tore me to pieces with his words.. and Leon did nothing. He just sat quietly and nodded.
“Get this off Sophie please! Please get all of this off me!” I begged and she helped me out of all of it until I was in my chemise. She was about to help me into my nightgown when there was light footsteps outside and then a note slipped under the door. Sophie and I both looked at eachother and she shrugged and walked over to open the door. There was no one there so she picked up the note.
“It’s addressed to you my lady,” she said. The piece of parchment has my name neatly written at the top in a handwriting I didn’t recognize. With curiosity I opened it and there was one short sentence.
‘Open your windows a tad and listen quietly.’
Sophie read it too and looked completely lost. “Why would someone ask you to do this? It makes no sense.”
I shrugged but I was too intrigued to ignore it so I went to the large windows and opened it just a bit. When I did, two harsh voices could be heard.
“What exactly are you asking from me Father?” Leon said impatiently.
“I’m asking you to fulfill your duty as the son of a Lord. What your brother and sister already did.” His father spit out. “Something that apparently your wife can’t do either.”
There was silence and I stepped closer to the window. What were Leon and I supposed to do? What could be so important that Leon and I were failing at?
“So thats it? That’s what you came to tell me Father?” Leon said a bit nervously but upset.
“Yes! I’ve come here to tell you that it is about time you and that woman have a child!” His father yelled at him.
He continued to say something else but I couldn’t hear anymore. My body froze and my head spun. A child? He wanted Leon and I to have a child? I looked at Sophie who was next to me and her eyes were full of fear too.
A child? With Leon?
Now?
How could I ever bring myself to do that? To bring a child into the world with a man who didn’t love me, nor I him, and who would probably not love them either? But I knew Leon would do anything to please his father-even if he had to force me.
My body shuddered in fear and my eyes filled with tears.
What was I supposed to do now?
- Writer
