The Promise

Chapter 1

"Ouch, you're pulling too tight mother" I squeal gasping for air as my mother pulls tighter and tighter on the corset around me. "Hush child, you need to be perfect for Lord Alexander, your father wouldn't want it any other way" she pulls tighter until I almost feel my ribs cave beneath my bone, white lace and silk, corset. "Mother" I sigh, "What is
Alexander like?" I question, longing to know more about the man I'm readying to marry at noon. "That's Lord Alexander to you" she hisses as she helps me into my dress "and he's" she pauses for a moment before continuing "very well actually, very respectful and very kind, he will do well of you child" I clasp the pearl and diamond necklace around my neck as I examine myself in the mirror, "it is quite a beautiful necklace mother" I tilt my head noticing the shine from the necklace bounce around the room, it is almost blinding "and you shall have a beautiful life, bearing beautiful babies my child" she gleams as she searches my elegantly dressed body once more searching for the slightest imperfections. "Mother, I am scared, what if I stumble onto my face, what if Lord Alexander hates me, what if he is old and ugly, how will I lay with a man like that" my breath quickens with nerves for I am about to walk down the aisle and marry a man I am yet to meet. "Hush child" she cups my face between her hands " I know you are nervous but you are quite the adequate young lady,Lord Alexander is not as old as you may come to believe, he is merely four and thirty, while he is considerably older than you my dear he cannot be so repulsive" her hand stroked my blushed cheek as she spoke " Mother, do you know nothing of this man you wish me to marry?" I remove her hands from my face and hold them for a moment "I haven't seen Lord Alexander in years sweet child and when I did it was for a mere brief moment before your father zipped him away into the study to talk buisness, I don't remember him to be horrid looking but he was young, your father always did know what he was doing Francesca, we must believe he is only doing what is right, even in death" with that I gathered my thoughts and began to head down the stairs and to the carriage accompanied by mother,gripping her tightly to afraid to let go incase I fall and ruin all the efforts of the day so far.

The carriage ride was quite and short, arriving at the church in a matter of moments. "It is time" mother stepped out of the carriage and taking a deep breath before moving I did so too, once again latching myself to her arm and walking into the unknown. The church was lit with natural daylight and music played softly as I began to make pace down the aisle. The white trim of my dress train followed behind me as I walked toward my future, trying my hardest to steady my heart before I get to the vicar.

As I stand in front of this stranger I take in the details of his freshly shaven face. Dark longer hair, slicked back with a few strands astray, drooping down in front of his eyes which appear a piercing blue in this church light. His eyes are accompanied by dark circles as if he does not sleep nor rest and frown lines lightly crease his forehead as if he lives his life in frustration and stress.
He is a rather tall man and he appears slim, not as old or horrid as I were to expect but certainly not as kind looking or clean as I would like.

"I now pronounce you Lord and Lady Seymour Sinclair" the vicars voice bellows through the church pulling me out of my thoughts as his voice echos through me. I am married to this hollow looking man who takes me by the hand leading me down the isle, I never noticed just how many unfamiliar faces were in the crowd for I am just an only child to a widowed woman I believe every face to be an acquaintance of Lord Alexander, he is a man of adequate wealth and fortune, is this to be my life? I am now but an arm piece, a trophy of sorts to a man who has yet to force a smile. I do not wish for a life of misery, I wish for love and happiness like every other young lady my age.

The carriage ride from the church to the hall was nothing more than silence, Lord Alexander did not even glance in my direction, does he find me repulsive? Does he already hate me? When we reached the hall he helped me out of the carriage and disappeared into the audience of strange faces and loud music. What am I to do now? "Lady Seymour Sinclair" I heard a voice call through the crowd as a short, rounder lady approached me "I am Lady Genevieve Williams, I would like to be the first to congratulate you" she curtsies in front of me and I repeat the gesture " thank you" I smile "have you seen in which direction Lord Alexander went?" I question " I shall quite like to get to know my new husband" I smile, she chuckles lightly and takes me by the arm into the hall " my dear, Lord Alexander is..." she pauses for a brief moment " he's rather, well, reserved" she stops to look at me " Lord Alexander is not one for parties and balls, he is not a man of many words and he is quite the curiosity, we were all surprised to find out he was to take a wife this season" we stop in front of the sweet table and Lady Genevieve Williams starts to pick at the colourful array in front of us. "Forgive my bluntness Lady Genevieve, but what is one supposed to do if she is not wanted by her husband?" I question, taking a glass from a servers tray and cleansing my dry throat. " You do what wives do" she smiles " you give him an heir and do your duty of keeping the grounds in check" she squeezes my hand before departing, leaving me with nothing but more questions.