Promises of Gold

1. Strange Offers

1890, London England

Cordelia watched as the carriage arrived. She sighed in despair as she realized she had to make her way downstairs. She did not under any circumstances want to be near the guests. She knew what awaited her. A false marriage, just like her parents'. She wanted to be nothing like them. Parents' who had shut her off as soon as Cordelia was different.

"Cordelia, Miss it's time to go down" her maid, Esther told her from the door.

Cordelia nodded and stood up. She fixed her light pink skirts and took a deep breath. Esther took a moment to quickly fix Cordelia's pinned blonde hair as she passed by. Cordelia nodded as a thank you and went downstairs. She walked through the cold hallway and beautifully carpeted floors until she spotted her father and mother. Alongside them were people she had never met or seen in her life. A young boy her age, with his own mother and father.

The boy wasn't bad looking. He had blonde hair like Cordelia's and brown eyes. He would even be very handsome if he didn't look as if he thought so much of himself. He wore a childish smirk and stood as if he owned the place. They all turned her way and she saw her father fake a smile of delight.

"This is my daughter! Cordelia!" Her father exclaimed.

Cordelia walked towards the guests and plastered on a fake smile. She bowed politely as the other family did the same. She dreaded having to spend a lunch with them.

"Nice to make your acquaintance" she greeted.

"I've heard so much about you from your father Baron." The mother told her with a smile.

"Great things, I hope" Cordelia replied.

"I'm Isla, this is my son Oliver, and my husband Oscar." The mother explained.

Cordelia nodded and met Oliver's eyes as they listened to his parents' journey from the country. Oliver just smirked at her causing Cordelia to scowl. Who did he think he was?

"Should we make our way to the dining hall?" Her mother offered.

They all agreed and walked towards the hall together. Cordelia stayed silent even as they sat down and began their lunch with each other. She did not want to say a word. Of course she was sat right beside Oliver. In all honesty she knew he could be a nice boy, but she did not care to find out.

"How are you enjoying it in London Cordelia?" Isla asked her from across the table. Isla had a genuine smile as she asked and Cordelia could not possibly make herself dislike her. Despite her similar blonde hair and brown eyes to her son, she seemed completely different and less full of herself.

"It's wonderful Miss. I'm lucky to have great company as well as education. I'm never bored here." Cordelia replied, knowing well enough her list of friends was very short. Due to her condition.

"That sounds wonderful indeed! Oliver had been begging us to move here for months now. He is so sick of the country" Isla told them.

"You would love it here." Cordelia's mother agreed.

Cordelia simply focused on eating her plate full of potatoes and not making any more contact with Oliver. She knew the conversation had to pop up.

"Shall we discuss what we were here to discuss?" Her father interrupted.

"Yes I believe we should." Oscar agreed.

Everyone's face turned serious and Cordelia sighed, losing  all her appetite. Cordelia noticed that Oliver didn't seem too pleased either.

"We're here to discuss the arrangement between our children. Your daughter Cordelia and my son Oliver. Their marriage would be most delightful and beneficial. We could have an arrangement with our crops and your daughter would have a respectable name for herself. Our connection would only be good for both of our families" Oscar explained.

"I agree. That is why I accept your offer for their marriage. Their wedding will happen in the fall." Baron said.

Cordelia felt as if she might throw up. It was June now. The fall was so close. She could not believe her father would do this to her.

As conversation erupted around the table about wedding arrangements and dresses Cordelia focused on taking deep breaths.

"Cordelia?" Oliver's voice said, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" Cordelia asked shortly.

"I have an offer. I know you despise it here, I can see through your lies. What would you tell me if I mentioned to you that I had a way to get out of this entrapment? To free us from this arrangement and our miserable lives? And the way out is in this city."

"I would say that I'm listening"