The London Affair

Chapter Seven: Emotional Bruises

Chapter Seven: Emotional Bruises

Maria looked at both men, she was shocked, stunned, saddened and furious. A tear fell down her cheek as she cried, "you both are disgusting. You think confessing all of this would suddenly make me end my engagement and stop my wedding. You say Anna was the love of your life, and now you say I'm the love of your life, which is it Peter? If I can recall correctly, you can't have two loves of your life. And you Robert, did it ever cross your mind to tell me about Anna? Like I say you two are revolting. Revolting I tell you. And look who got punished for your recklessness, Anna and that unborn baby!" She took off her engagement ring.

Robert looked shocked, "Maria, I understand I should have told you about Anna and I'm sorry but you are going to throw away our engagement over this?"

"Robert, it's not just this but everything, I need to find myself first. I love you but I still love Peter but at this moment in time, I want nothing to do with either one of you or any man for that matter." She handed Robert the ring, " I will always have a place in my heart for you, you are going to have to tell my father. Now be gone the both of you before I have Andrew escort you out."

"I cannot believe you have done it again, throw away another suitor, I spoke incorrectly I mean another fiancé. You my dear girl were engaged to the Prime Minister and General Taylor, who is one of the most admired men in the country and you cast them both aside," screamed Maria's father, Andrew Grey, later that evening. Not wanting to cause any further harm to Maria's reputation, Peter had slipped out the back but not before being seen by Lord Grey, hoping he would have either renewed the engagement with Maria or become engaged to one of his other daughters. Lord Grey preferred Peter over Robert but would have seen it as an accomplishment to have a royal favorite as a son in law. Actually he preferred Peter's money but cared nothing for Peter as a person. Just about as Lord Grey was going to questioned Peter about his intentions, Robert came up and told Lord Grey the news. He spoke simply and plainly telling the ill-tempered Lord Grey that Maria had decided against the marriage. He told him that he respected her decision but would always treasure their time together and that he still loved her and he thanked Lord Grey for welcoming him into his wonderful family. Lord Grey informed Robert that under the law he could still force Maria to marry him. Robert said he would do no such thing and that Lord Grey was disgusting for suggesting such a thing. He then walked away. Lord Grey then turned to Peter saying that Robert was weak and that he couldn't believe such a man commanded troops. He then told Peter that he could have any one of his daughters as long as he married them that day. Peter softly said no, his heart belonged to Maria. He said who Maria married was her choice and he left with tears in his eyes.

"You have not only driven away suitors from yourself, I can't think of any man that would want you now; you have also driven away suitors from your sisters. You have brought dishonor upon the house of Grey. Do you know how much of a dowry I am going to have to put up for you now, what man will take you after you have rejected both the Prime Minister and the war hero? You are going to Oxfordshire to stay with your Aunt Beatrice, Lady Spencer. You will be leaving in a few weeks, I'll need to make the arrangements. You will stay there until I determine what to do with you but I will not have you hang about here ruining your sister's chances at a good marriage," cried Lord Grey. "You are a disgrace."

Maria stood up with tears in her brown eyes. "I am not a disgrace, those two are the disgrace but I must love or at least pity those two poor fools enough to not tell you why I rejected both of them today, but I must remind you, Peter ended our engagement first."

Lord Grey let out a snarl, " get out of my sight."

Hours later Maria was alone in her room by the dim candle light on what was supposed to be her wedding night. She was writing or was attempting to write letters to both Robert and Peter. They went something like this, "My dear vile sir," "Dear most dreadful Sir, it is my sincere hope that the very earth opens up her mouth and swallows you whole." She didn't know who was worse for not telling her about Anna. Peter told her, he was undyingly in love with her but neglected to tell her, he fathered a child with a woman, who died giving birth to said child. Robert on the other hand seemed grieved over the death of Anna but she must have been so unimportant to him that it didn't cross his mind to tell Maria about her. She sighed heavily, she hated this. Men could go about and be with whatever woman they wanted and it wouldn't ruin their reputations. She cast the letters aside and went to sleep. As she drifted to sleep, she realized she didn't feel relieved. Yes, she had had her doubts about marrying Robert but still she loved him though she hated him. Peter was a man, she too hated but she loved him still. As dreams were about to settle in she realized she loved both menequally and if she had gone through with the wedding, she would have been paralyzed with indecision at the altar. She thought she loved Peter more but that simply wasn't true, both men held a firm grip on her heart.