Arranged Hate

Chapter 1

"Miss? Miss Tracy?" I heard someone say.

I opened my eyes and saw one of my maids. She saw that I'm awake now so she left me. Scared that I'll punish her for staring at me too long. I sat up in my purple queen sized bed. My maids opened the curtains of my canopy and the light flooded in. One maid came out the bathroom.

"Your bath is ready, Miss Tracy" she said.

I nodded a thank you and climbed out of bed. After sliding on my slippers on my feet, I walked into the bathroom. I took off my clothes and slipped into the steaming bath. My maids came in to help me but I waved them away. No way am I letting them near my body. I finished and they gave me a towel to dry myself. I put my gown on and walked to my closet behind the fancy screen.

"Which dress would you want to wear today, Miss?" A maid said behind the screen.

"The blue one with the matching shoes" I said putting on my underwear.

They gave me my fancy blue dress and helped me put it on, tightening the strings of my corset at the back so that I had trouble breathing. They left and I quickly untied it a bit so I can breathe. I stepped into my shoes and put on my matching gloves that reach my elbows, which are a compulsory in this family, then walked out so they can do my hair. Today they are leaving it down. Finally I can't take another day of hair pulling as they make it into a complicated hairstyle. I'm guessing there's nothing important happening today.

Sometime I hate my father being the governor of our small island. My three older brothers use 'my dad is the governor' line to sleep with girls at night. All of my maids have at least slept once with them. At least my sister, Lucie, shares my disgust. Kevin, Tony and Malcolm don't even talk to me because I never had a boyfriend or a lover which is taboo in this family. They only talk to me a bit when we have to do a brother-sister dance in balls. Lucie loves her guy, Austin, which I approve of because most guys just want the power but this guy wants the girl.

I left my room and saw the corner of the corridor where Malcolm's room is and saw his door open. I hid from view. One of the youngest maids walked out. I'm sure she wasn't the one that I saw walking in there. Her maid dress is wrinkled and messily put on. She walked to the maid tunnels opening in the wall and the pain showed on her face. Gross. Another maid on my list to avoid. Once she disappeared in the wall, did I carry on walking past that corridor. I finally past all the corridors. Luckily no other doors opened. I entered the eating hall where my father already sat and kissing a women passionately. They stopped when I walked in. He just nodded at me. I sat down waiting for the rest of the family. A few minutes later Lucie came in.

"Lucie, darling. Did you have a peaceful sleep?" My father asked.

"Yes father" Lucie said.

"I'm glad" he replied.

She never said anymore to carry on the conversation knowing that I'd be left out. She sat next to me nearer to father. Then my brothers came in with happy smiles on their faces.

"Boys, there you are. So now you all together I'd like to introduce you to Linda. My new wife" father said.

"You mean our sixth mother" I said under my breath.

They ignored me. Its true. Now I have six mothers. So technically my siblings are step-brothers and sister. They chatted with the whole breakfast about the wedding and more children. I gaged in my head. My sister and I excused ourselves when we were finished and went outside into our beautiful garden.

"So which ones did you see this morning?" Lucie asked.

"I only saw one. That new one we hired with the red hair" I said.

"That's so unfair. She's my maid. I'm going to see her everyday now. I knew something was up when she walked in with a wrinkled dress" she said and we pretended to puke then burst out giggling.

We sat on our bench in a isolated part of the garden but the scenery of the town and all the green of plants and trees made it an awesome hanging out place for us. Away from the troubles of our mansion and all the ears of the servants. We sat there chatting a bit but mostly staring dreamily out over the town. Austin tells us all about the busy streets, the markets, the parties and the freedom. None of us have ever left the ground of our mansion because our father forbid it. Its the one thing all my siblings have in common. The longing for adventure even if its just the town. We walked back when it started nearing lunch time. The servants started gossiping and stopped when they saw us. When we left we hid behind the wall and saw them gossip again. I tried to listen but only caught a few words. My name was said. I looked at Lucie and she nodded telling me she also heard it. We walked back to the servants and they looked frightened.

"Tell me" I demanded.

They look skeptical but answered anyways.

"One servant who gives wine to the Governor overheard him saying that he's asking all single males, around your age, to be your husband" one woman said.

"What?" Lucie asked while I stood in shock.

"Are you sure you heard correctly?" Lucie asked.

"Yes. My brother doesn't lie. If he said he heard it then he heard it, Miss Tracy" she replied.

"Thank you for telling me. If there's anything more then come directly to me and you will get money" I said.

She nodded eagerly. We left and Lucie kept quiet at my side. She knew anger was bubbling up inside of me.

"Do you want me to find out from Kevin? If anyone knows the full story, it's him. He's the first born of course" she said finally at my door.

I nodded and entered my room closing my door behind the disappearing figure of my sister down the corridor. I collapsed on my bed and screamed into my pillow. I hate my father for doing this. If I want a guy then I'll find a guy not take my father's minion that is probably going to be some snobby rich kid looking for money. If its true then I'll just have to chase them all away until no guy is left standing. Even if I have to use a giant hammer.