Scarlet Dedlock just lost her father and is being forced to move to London to find a husband. She can't accept that she can't run her fathers business without a husband and will not go down without a fight. What happens when she finally meets a man...
A few days later, Scarlet sat in her room covering her face with her hands after she excused herself from tea with another suitor and Uncle. She had been agreeable as much as possible but now, it was getting to be too much and she was tired of pretending. Her irritation was becoming apparent since her uncle kept bringing men who were either too old or too quiet, even ones that seemed "delicate" and boring to her. She would ask them about their interests and they always implied that they enjoyed hunting for sport or riding or gambling, things she enjoyed, but then they would comment about being able to enjoy gardening and raising children and things a woman would be expected to do. She wanted a man who would accept her as an equal and not anything different. She looked in her mirror and thought about sneaking out that night to visit with Arthur. She didn't know why but she was missing his company. She knew his intentions were purely friendship and mutual respect. She hadn't seen him since she discovered her father's pocket watch was missing. It was the only thing she kept of his when he died since it was a wedding gift from her mother to him. She had searched everywhere and figured she dropped in the carriage when she came back to Chesney Wold after seeing Arthur.
Cathy came into the room to check on Scarlet, summoning her to tea in the study with her uncle. Scarlet stood at the top of the stairs and heard Uncle Leicester's booming voice speaking. She went downstairs and saw Mr. Tulkinghorn, his solicitor, and Mr. Jaggers, another solicitor scurrying to the door to leave. She jumped when she heard Uncle's voice:
"SCARLET!" Scarlet walked to the study door and smiled as she poked her head in.
"Hello, Uncle. You called for me?" He stood at his desk motioning for her to enter. She walked in and sat quietly.
"Scarlet. I have summoned at least 20 suitors for you and you have denied each one. This has continued long enough! You are forcing me to scrape the barrel for gentlemen for you and I am down to the final options! Do you not understand that you are risking your father's legacy?" Scarlet furrowed her brow.
"Uncle! My father's legacy is going to be taken away because I do not wish to marry a doormat! I don't NEED anyone to run the mill! I know how to do it."
"Be that as it is, your father made it clear the stipulations and legally we have to follow them. You are leaving me with no choice but there is a suitor asking to come see you and I am not pleased with this choice. He is coming for dinner tonight and YOU will give the Havisham boy the courtesy of a chance, do you understand?"
Scarlet huffed loudly and stood up, mumbling through gritted teeth. "As you wish, Uncle." She turned and left the study slamming the door behind her before stomping past Cathy and heading to her room, slamming that door as well. She couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't want to have to pretend with another suitor. And she didn't know who this Havisham boy was, but the fact that Uncle seemed unimpressed with him didn't bode well for her. It felt odd he didn't want to to meet him at all, and if that was the case, why was he allowing him to come calling? Perhaps he was the last option? Would she lose the mill or have to begin searching for suitors elsewhere? She took a deep breath and stood at the window. She suddenly smiled as she thought about Arthur and that kiss and her stomach flipped. She shook her head; why could she not stop thinking about him? It infuriated her the way he crossed her mind all the time when she knew there was no way he gave a second thought about her.
Cathy came in to help her change before this Havisham boy showed up. The fact that her uncle called him BOY was not a good sign. Plus he made it seem like this might be her last shot to keep the mill. Perhaps that was why the two solicitors had come earlier. The bell rang when the boy arrived, Scarlet frowned as Cathy went down to assess the situation before bringing Scarlet down to dinner. Scarlet paced in the room nervously as she waited, she could barely breathe. She wondered what the boy might look like as she nervously tapped her fingernail on her teeth. Her mind was racing again. After what felt like forever, Cathy reappeared in her room. Scarlet walked over to her. "Well?" Cathy shrugged and smiled a little.
"Is he very old?" Cathy shook her head.
"Is he ugly?" Cathy thought for a second and then shook her head.
"Did you see anything wrong with him? Is he missing limbs?" Cathy shook her head again.
"Did he seem nice?" Cathy shrugged and shook her head a little.
"Did he seem friendly at least?" Cathy shook her head.
"Was Uncle welcoming to him?" Cathy frowned a little and shrugged. Scarlet sighed, frustrated. The ONE TIME she wished Cathy could speak...
"I suppose they want me to come down for dinner, don't they?" Cathy nodded. Scarlet nodded and took a deep breath. She could have really used a bit of whisky to settle down. She finally walked out of the room and stood at the top of the stairs as Cathy went down ahead of her to let her Uncle introduce her in the study. Cathy came to the stairs and nodded, Scarlet went down the stairs and stood outside the study door, knocking gently and holding her breath. She heard her Uncle.
"Ah, please join us, Scarlet." She opened the door and gave a little bow looking down as her Uncle spoke.
"Scarlet, allow me to introduce you to young Arthur Havisham..."
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