Samantha dipped into a curtsy in the parlor of her grandmothers house as the man in front of her bowed slightly.
"Please, do take a seat, Mr. Thompson."
Her grandmother smiled gesturing to the velvet sofa where Sam now sat. There was a dip in the vision next to her as he sat down. Though they were not sitting close to each other, Samantha felt uncomfortable.
"Ah, what a darling couple! This was surly a good match!"
The old woman smiled pleased with her decision. Her white hair was pulled back into a bun and though she was old, she had few wrinkles.
"I agree, Mrs. Parkington. Your granddaughter has blossomed into a lovely young woman."
Henry added with a nod. Samantha nervously picked up her teacup and took a small sip. Her half pinned up brown curls swept over her shoulder as she moved. Her small hands were covered by white lace gloves that matched with her pink dress with white lace. Samantha pulled the little cup away from her rose colored lips.
"So as we said before, my granddaughter will be moving into your new house after the wedding, and we will send her belongings to the house the day before the ceremony, correct?"
"That is correct, Mrs. Parkington. I'm sure Miss Parkington will take a liking to the house bought especially for her tastes."
He said with a grin.
"Is that so? You really are quite the gentleman, don't you agree, Samantha?"
Sam, shocked that she was even being able to talk in the conversation looked up with her dark blue eyes.
"A nice gentleman indeed."
She lied. This was her first time ever meeting him, so how was she to know what he was like? The grandfather clock rang its bells.
"Oh, dear, I really must be going now. Everyone at the office will begin to wonder where I am!"
He laughed standing up and reaching out for Mrs. Parkington's hand.
"So soon?"
She asked.
"I'm afraid so, ma'm."
He turned from Sam's grandmother to face his betrothed.
"Miss Parkington"
He took Sam's hand and lightly kissed it. Samantha's hand jerked away as soon as he let go. I don't even know him. She repeated in her mind. Charles, the butler, led Mr.Thompson to the door. When the front door shut, Sam felt relieved. She dropped back into the sofa with a thousand things rushing through her head.
"He owns three Law Offices, such success! Samantha, do straighten up, please."
The old woman scolded. Sam quickly sat up straight. She hated this about herself. She always does exactly what she was told, which isn't always a good thing.
"Grandmother, may I be excused?"
She asked politely. Her grandmother nodded and Sam walked out of the parlor. She moved into the foyer where she climbed up the stairs and down a hallway to her bedroom. Sam's room was pink with floral designs, all decorated by her grandmother. She sat at her vanity and stared at herself in the mirror. Am I really about to marry some man I barely even know? And in two days? What happened to me? What happened to the little girl who dreamed of wearing slacks and running away to New Orleans? Oh, how I wanted to be there. To see the huge white mansions and lit up streets! Where did my courage go? Had they broken me down that much? If I had just half the spirit as I used to have, I would have been packing my bags right now to leave. But whom I kidding? I wouldn't last a minute on my own. I will just do what grandmother wants and marry him. After all, she seems to always know whats right.
Samantha slept uneasy that night in her bed. She tossed and turned until she woke up on her side facing the small window in her room. It was opened slightly and a cool breeze blew in and played with Sam's hair. She looked up through her eyelashes at the twinkling stars in the night sky. She at least wanted to leave America once before she was married. Visit perhaps London, Paris, or India! But that was impossible. Her wedding was on countdown, and she already decided to accept her fate. Sam fell back asleep watching the stars sparkle thousands of miles away.
The next morning, Samantha was greeted my her grandmother at the breakfast table. Sam was cutting her omelette with a silver knife as her grandmother went over her schedule for the day.
"After breakfast you are to be driven to Ms. Carson's shoppe to try on the wedding dress I have arranged for you. Then you will be brought to your soon to be new house to help decorate, as Mr. Thompson asked-"
"He asked for my help?"
She interrupted out of surprise. Her grandmother gave her a stern look, then continued to talk.
"When you are done at the new house, you will come here to tell Charles everything you want to be moved into your new house. Understood?"
"Yes ma'm"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Samantha stood in shock staring at herself in the mirror. She wore a white laced wedding dress that felt as though it was weighing her down with 100 pounds.
"My, my, darling! Don't you look simply lovely!"
Ms. Carson gushed.
"Do I really? "
