London, England Circa 1801
The sound of street carriages filled the cobble stone streets endless talks of the engagement between future Duke and Duchess Claude Constantine and Rosemary Clemont. Joyous times truly, but not for all especially the 'lucky' groom in question.
He was practically trampling through the servants in the hallway newspaper in tow.
"What is this rubbish!" Claude barged into his fathers office plopping the newspaper down. "I told you I don't want to be with her you never listen!"
Claude's father David looked up from his office papers with a blank face and spoke calmly. "You must marry her the papers have been signed and that is that." Of course Claude was in utter distress he scoffed and shook his head. "Well send them back for all I care you can't make me marry some stranger."
"Yes I very well can boy because I'm your father now you dare speak to me like this again you will face the consequences!" His fathers voice thundered throughout the room slamming his hands onto the hard wood desk "You will marry lady Clemont and that is final you can go." The air was tense neither daring to look away from the other a test of power.
Claude clutched his dress coat and nodded begrudgingly turning away out of the room. He never wanted to marry wasn't his thing he liked to play around which earned him quite the reputation among the masses.
——
"Liston you just don't get it you're set you don't even have to marry if you don't want too." Claude complained taking a sip out of a glass of wine Liston his best friend watched on with a calculating gaze chuckling ever so lightly as they watched the dancers in the bar.
Liston the best friend he was Claude's biggest confidant in matters of almost everything. "That isn't as accurate as you think I have my worries too like anybody else." But Claude must of had selective hearing because he wasn't even listening to what his friend said choosing to talk about himself he was a truly shrewd young man.
Claude tapped his foot under the table mulling things over as his eyes grazed the crowd landing on a wavy haired young woman he had a thing for all things beautiful and she sure fit that standard.
"I'll be right back." Liston took hold of his wrists shaking his head in disappointment. "Come on Claude you're engaged don't do that young lady a disservice." Did Claude listen? No he did not as he pulled his wrist back.
"It's one little conversation I'm not going to propose to her or something outrageous like that." Liston just looked on watching as his friend walked right over to the young lady who was busy cleaning off one of the tables.
Claude straightened his hair putting on a charming smile as he walked infront of her. "Hello I am Claude Constantine and you are?" To his surprise she looked less than interested and looked at him like he was a bother.
"I'm Christina." She then continued cleaning as he stood there awkwardly infront of her laughing as he put a hand on his hip. "Have you misheard me my lady I'm Claude, Claude Constantine."
Christina looked at him with an expression that read she had no idea who he was. "Okay good for you." She nodded turning away from him and wringing out her towel in a bucket.
"Haha umm would you like me to buy you a drink?" Christina turned around once again then crossed her arms over her chest. "Sir I'm trying to work in peace your company is not necessary or wanted." She packed her things up and moved on to the next table leaving him standing idly in disbelief .
He was stunned Claude for the first time in his life had been rejected he thought 'Was the world caving in?' So the walk back to the table was silent and quite embarrassing as he sat down collapsing into the chair.
"She rejected me?"
He didn't know what to do with himself.
