Dusk til Dawn

-3-

I can feel the air getting stuck in my throat. My legs collapse underneath me and I fall to the ground. Tears begin to well up in my eyes. I am trying to control my breathing, but nothing is working. This can't be true. Those kids were only little, maybe they were making it up. Perhaps I had heard the wrong name. To be honest, me hearing the wrong name is unlikely, I have wonderful hearing and the past day has been pretty messy. There have been a lot of signs today that indicate that the kids weren't lying, and that my hearing is perfectly fine. The fear of what to come is being to rise inside me. I never imagined myself getting married. I honestly never thought I would move out of the shack, but I guess a lot of things that I didn't expect are happening today. Tears are rushing down my face now and the salty-ness of them is lightly burning my face. The door opens next to me and to my surprise my Aunt rushes in. She crouches down and wraps me up in her arms. This is a very strange feeling for me. I don't think my Aunt had ever hugged me. All I can think about now is that she has to be behind this, she didn't like me very much from the beginning and this is a very easy way for her to get rid of me. " I'm here Sydney, don't cry, everything is going to be ok." She said quietly into my ear.

" Is it that easy for you to lie to me?" I said wiping the tears off my face. " Do you expect me to believe that you didn't set this up? How much are they paying you? I would really like to know how much I am worth to you?"

" It's not that simple..."

" Is it not?" I said cutting her off. I'm pretty sure I deserve an explanation, since I am being shipped off to marry some guy I have never met.

" Just hear me out darling," she said loosening her grip on me as she slowly moved away, standing up looking directly down on me. " Things have been tough lately. Money has been short and I needed food for myself..."

" Oh yes, why am I not surprised? We do everything to benefit you, what do I get out of this?" I said, cutting her off again. She gets to disown me, so I get to cut her off. She doesn't deserve any respect from me.

" Darling... you don't understand."

" I understand perfectly fine. You don't want me anymore, and you need me for the money. I'm pretty sure I know perfectly fine. Now, I'm pretty sure you didn't tell me how much you are getting?"

" It's not just money darling... The man you are marrying is the Duke." What the hell? The Duke? What sort of duke would want to marry me? " Honey, He promised me that he would take good care of me and you..."

" What sort of Duke would want to marry me? Did you threaten him? You know threatening a Duke could cost you your life, and mine?"

" Yes, I do know that, and I didn't threaten him, he came to me and asked me for your hand in marriage, I was surprised as you are." I sit there in silence, trying to process the information I just heard. So my Aunt didn't need to threaten a Duke for my hand in marriage. The Duke wanted to marry me. What is wrong with him?

I watch as a tear falls down the cheek of my Aunt. I didn't expect her to feel bad for me. If she was me, she would be extremely happy. Honestly she wouldn't be mad at all. She dreams of this stuff happening to her. She is sort of just one of those prim and proper people. The people I hate. Hence why we don't get along.

There is a knock at the bathroom door, and my Aunt immediately turned towards it, opening the door to reveal Betty. She was standing there with a few bags in her hand and the white wedding gown from earlier. " Oh ma'am,"  Said Betty in a surprised tone, referring to my Aunt," I didn't expect to see you here. Do you mind if I steal your niece for her hair and makeup for her big day?"

" Oh yes, of course, I was just leaving." Said my Aunt as she turned to look at me on the floor before exiting the room.

Betty left the bathroom just after my Aunt, and headed over to the dresser in the other room. She set out all of the makeup and hair tools she needed to tame the state I was currently in. I've never had anything like this happen to me. I haven't had a proper bath in over 10 years, yet had makeup and hair done. This is a rather new experience.