Bewitched by Ivory

1. Noble Lady

Ivory.

"Come on in daughter" my father exclaims from the inside of his office.
I obey and shove the heavy oak door past me, entering his chamber.
My father sits as usual in his rocking chair, swinging slightly back and forth.
His gaze is targeted out the window, he seems to be washed away by his thoughts.

I clear my throat decently, announcing my presence.

"Ah there you are, my littler girl" father utters contently and points at the lounger.
I take place and fold my hands attentively.
"There's something I want to talk to you about" he explains.
"What is it Papa?" I ask curiously and pour us some peppermint tea.
He takes a deep sigh before answering
"You're getting married, Ivory" .

I almost drop the tea cup as I perceive his words.

"What...I-I'm getting married?"
I strut, overwhelmed by thousand thoughts and questions buzzing through my head.

"I'm truly sorry daughter. It's just how things work for young noble ladies, you must fulfil your duty to this family" he utters monotonous
and gets up from his rocking chair.

His words feel like a punch in my guts.
My father is actually willing to send me away, away from my Mama, him and my sisters.
Away from my home.

"But Papa you married Mama, because you love her.
Why do I have to marry someone I'm not even acquainted with?"
I stumble, forcing the tears to stay in my eyes.

He picks up several papers from his desks and hands them over to me.

"We have high depts as you can see, your suitor offered an immense amount of money in exchange for your hand" he sighs  and lets his hand run gently over my back.

I'm speechless.
I'm actually being traded for money.

"Who is he?" was the only question that comes to my mind as I rub my temples vigorously.

"Parker Leeds"

My jaw almost dropped open, after my father told me to whom I'm apparently engaged to.

"See, the man your marrying is not a complete stranger"
my father tries convincing me, since my gestures reveal the exact opposite of being happy about the engagement.

Parker Leeds might not be a complete stranger, but I'd prefer a stranger over him.
In fact I'd prefer anyone over him.

"Papa he's always been a troublemaker at school until he got kicked out" I whine and burry my face in my hands .

"His father sought a better education institute for him" my father clarifies annoyed and turns his back on me, clearly wanting to put an end to this conversation.

"You didn't sought a better education institute for us"
I counter and immediately regret allowing anger to have this much power over me.

"Ivory Greer Cavendish.
I've sacrificed everything for you and your sisters.
You don't get to throw that in my face" he exhorts and a delicate vein pops up his forehead.

I feel how a liquid consistency forms in the inner corner of my eyes and I'm at the edge of losing it, so I storm out his office.

I hate getting into fights with my father, but frankly I had alright to be mad at him.

~•~•~•~•~

"Leave" I sob and burry my face in a pillow.
"Ivory get your ass out here and tell us what's going on"
I hear my youngest sister Priscilla (Prissy) call and before I get the chance to answer, the door swings open and my sisters Nora, Claire and Prissy come storming in like a hungry mob of pirates.
They brought my favourite snacks that Mama usually forbids us to have, since we could possibly lose our feminine measurements.

Suddenly all three jump on my canopy bed, causing a massive feather explosion.

"What the hell are y-"

Slam!

A pillow was slammed merciless against my face, initiating the upcoming pillow fight.

We end up lying next to each other in bed, giggling until our bellies hurt.
Several feathers are floating through my room and the bed's a mess.

"Ivory" my sisters chirp in sync and pull me into a bone crashing group hug.
Thankfully they let go of me, before my lungs run out of air.
Still I'm not safe though,
since I'm the target of three pairs of huge puppy eyes staring at me.

"Ivory...what's wrong, tell us"
Claire niggles demandingly,
earning supporting nods from our sisters.

I could feel my eyes getting watery again and I know to well that if I had to speak I'd burst out in tears.

"I-I'm getting married" I strut shaky and wipe the tears off my cheeks.
God how I hate being this sentimental.

"What? When and why?" Nora exclaims perplexed and falls around my neck.

"I don't know when, father says I must fulfill my duties as a noble lady" I sob and burry my face in Nora's shoulder blade.

"What the hell? Selling your daughter off into an alliance shouldn't be a noble lady's duty. You're not a whore"

"PRISSY"

"What!I'm simply stating facts, Claire" Prissy yells furiously at our sister.

"Prissy's right though.
Why should Papa force you into an alliance?"
Nora asks confused and pads my back gently.

"We...we have...uh we have h-high depths" I barely manage to say, since I almost choke on my own tears and saliva.

"That can't be true. He isn't actually trading you for money?" Prissy shouts angrily.

"PRISSY"

"CLAIRE"

My two sisters yell hostilely at each other.

"Can y'all please just stop?
Ivory's crying, stop making everything about yourselves"
Nora hisses up and glares at Prissy and Claire.

"I'm marrying Parker Leeds" I burst out and suddenly the room goes death still.

"What?" all three of them stumble in chorus.

"I'm engaged to Parker Leeds"
I repeat myself, swallowing hard at my words.

"The Parker Leeds who got kicked out of school, after he bullied a kid into suicide?"
Claire asks skeptically.

I just nod, since I ran out of words.
Anyways it's to late,
I had to accept my irreversible engagement.

"Wait, Prissy where are you going?" Nora yells after our youngest sister who makes hold at my door frame.

"I'm going to talk with Papa"

~•~•~•~•~

I hope you like the first chapter and thank you for giving this book a chance <3

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