“Good lord child did you sleep at all?” Mrs. Vandus asked as she entered her daughter’s room. “Thomas will be over soon and you need at least a whole bottle of concealer.
“Thanks Mother,” Elena replied dryly. When she had finally gotten home last night it had been half past four and her maid had woken her at six. “Do you ever care about anything besides looks?”
Mrs. Vandus puffed up her chest. “I gave birth to you and you will respect me. How dare you talk to me like that.” She shook her head. “Besides this is for you. You know how long the Vandus and Hathern families have been trying to unite their families. You and Thomas are the first two that can marry besides that worthless Brad. So no complaining. He’s a good man and will provide for you.”
“But Mother what if I want a husband who loves me?” They had this argument many times but this was the first time Mrs. Vandus gave her honest opinion.
“Marriage isn’t about love, at least not for us,” she answered. “You are a woman of class and as such you are bound to the expiations laid out to you. At first your father didn’t love me, his heart belonged to another but then I had you and everything changed for him.” Mrs. Vandus held her daughter’s hand. “Thomas will come to love you.”
“And if I don’t love him?”
“Then you love the children he will give you.”
Elena shook her head. “I will never lay with a man unless I love him. Even if I’m married to him I won’t.”
Mrs. Vandus was about to say something but she was interrupted. “Mrs. Vandus I think it would be best if I finished getting Miss. Elena ready on her own,” Saben said. “With you here I can’t get her to sit still and we have her to look perfect for when Mr. Thomas arrives.”
“You’re very correct Saben.” Mrs. Vandus nodded and left.
Elena sighed. “Thank you Saben. What would I do without you?”
“Elena I do not want to upset you but I want to warn you of something. Once married you will have to sleep with Thomas. He might push it off but after some time he will force you and trust me when I say it’s a lot better to willing lay with your husband then let him take you by force because then you’ll never be happy.”
“Do you really think Thomas would rape me?” Elena was horrified at the thought.
Saben shook her head. “It wouldn’t be rape. Once you’re married you are his and he can do with you as he pleases. And no one would dare go up against him with the power he has.”
Elena sighed and watched as Saben transformed her into the image of a perfect wealthy young woman. Her hair was pulled up into an updo. Brown contacts hid her blue eyes and layers and layers of makeup were powered on till Elena couldn’t see her true face.
Then Saben brought out a light pink dress. The neck line reach her neck so not to show off any of her chest and she felt the expanders hold the waist of her out a couple of inches so she had a larger waist.
“It’s truly hideous Saben. I think you have out done yourself,” Elena groaned as she looked at herself in the mirror.
Saben laughed. “You look like the image of a wealthy woman any girl would die to be.”
Elena shook her head. “I’ll trade them.”
“My lord you look amazing Elena,” Thomas beamed when he saw her.
“Thank you Mr. Thomas. That’s very sweet of you,” she replied in the slightly higher voice that society dictated. It was another thing she hated. To her everything she had to do because of her class was stupid and unneeded.
“Oh Elena I think we have gotten past the point of addressing each other by title’s. Besides one day you will be my wife so we don’t need to pretend it might not happen.”
“Very well.” She bowed her head. “So what is on the agenda to do today?”
He held out his arm for her to take. “Well I was finally able to convince the lovely Mrs. Vandus to let me steal you alone today. So I was thinking lunch and then perhaps I could show you around one of the hospitals my family owns.”
“That sounds lovely.” Elena took Thomas’s arm and silently on the inside screamed as loud as she could.
“Are you felling alright?” Thomas reached across the table and took Elena’s hand.
She looked down at it and then up at him. “Yes, sorry I was just thinking about the future.”
“Once we’re married.” He smiled. “Don’t worry it won’t be too much longer. And then soon after that you’ll have my children to raise.”
Elena wanted to say, ‘the hell I want to marry you. And you really think I want to raise your brat children?’ but she instead said, “yes one day.” And went back to eating.
The rest of the day was just as boring. Thomas showed her around the hospital and explained how they had all the leading technology to save human’s lives. After that he brought her back home and had dinner once more with the Vanduses.
“So young Thomas what do you think of my daughter?” Mr. Vandus asked as he lit a cigar.
Mr. Vandus and Thomas had moved into the lounge and Elena and her mother were bringing in deserts. Thomas lightly pulled on Elena’s hand and she sat next to him on the love seat. “I think you’ve raised an amazing woman.” He grinned. “Today we had a talk about once we’re married and she can’t wait to bear my children. At first I was a little nervous but then I realized Elena just wants to start a family and provide the one thing she can.” He turned to Mrs. Vandus. “You taught your daughter how to be a proper wife.”
Mr. Vandus chuckled. “Slow down boy. Don’t thank us till you’ve had her as a wife for a while and see how she is in bed.”
Elena paled and Mrs. Vandus turned to her husband appalled. “Henry!”
“Oh calm down my sweet.” He took his wife’s hand. “We all know that soon Thomas and Elena will marry so there is no reason why we cannot talk about more private things.”
“Still Henry that is not something you should speak in front of ladies.” Mrs. Vandus rose. “Come Elena we will leave the men to speak alone.”
For once Elena was thankful for her mother and followed her out of the room. Once the door to the lounge closed Elena sank into a chair at the table and buried her head in her hands.
“I’m sorry honey. Your father had no right to say that.” Mrs. Vandus shook her head. “Men will be men that’s why we stay out of their conversations and let them be.”
“Mother I think I’m going to be sick. May I please retire to my room?” Elena asked. “I haven’t been feeling well all day and I hid it from Thomas but I don’t want him to find out.”
“Yes of course.” Mrs. Vandus stroked Elena’s hair. “I’ll tell Thomas you went to bed early.”
“Thank you.” Elena rose and left the kitchen.
YOU ARE READING
Masked
Romance“Sarah promise me you’ll come back here tomorrow.” There was no question in his voice. He wasn’t asking her but telling her to come back. She nodded. “Ok.” He nodded. “Good.” Then he let her go. “If you must leave me for tonight then leave before I...
