The Secret of the Stone

Chapter 2

Elsie

   I was picked up promptly for dinner. My silver blue gown is plump, primped and shining. Tucked into a beautiful sweeping updo was my fiery hair, topped with a silver pin, an emerald gleaming to match the color of my eyes. I hated every bit of it. My corset made me gasp for air. My hair pins dug painfully into my scalp. My shoes pinched my toes. I had been running “wild” as my father would say for far too long.
I never minded not having to be told to stop doing things because they were “improper.” Stepping out of the carriage I look at the Browns house. It was large, much bigger than ours. And in the city too, a fair distance from our apple orchard and little village. It had taken a good hour and a half! Peggy steps out behind me and gasps at the house, before catching herself and apologizing. I roll my eyes at her and give her an exaggerated frown. “How dare you show emotion, Peggy!” She laughs but immediately stifles it.
A tall butler greets us as we walk up and hurries us into a big greeting room.  I was exceptionally nervous at this point. They were quite above our station. While we had money, land and status, we were still from a small village. Why would their eldest agree to marry me?
Before I could get anymore bewildered a gentleman of dark hair and long stride swoops in dismissing the butler.
Hello Elise.” He says with a little head nod. “It is a pleasure to finally meet. I am sorry it is under such circumstances. Your father wanted nothing more for you than to be safe and cared for. I agreed upon leaving him to do just that.”
I gaped at him, not at all sure what to say. He wasn’t what I expected. He was polite, well spoken, handsome and young. So young in fact he looked no more than possibly 21 a mere three years older. He was abruptly to the point.
“Ummm. Yes. I very much wish to see my father.” I mumble out, still too surprised to say much.
“Well as soon as the wedding matters are conducted we will be on our way to the caribbean. But it may be a few weeks yet my mother, well she is-” He grimaces and his sentence was cut off by a shrill voice.
“Darling, why haven’t you brought her in yet? All this yammering on to her. Come let her have refreshments.”
A woman in a dark lace dress carefully walks over to me and grabs my arm. “I am Mark's mother. Come, we want to get to know you better.”
The way she said it and the way she pulled me into the room made me uncomfortable to say the least. She sat me down on one of their sofas in the middle of the room and sits down across from me next to her husband. A girl about 12 was playing the piano. While two younger boys sat at a window table reading books and a teenage boy was drawing.
Mark sits down next to me and his parents give me a once over.
“Well she is a pretty little thing, I'll give her that.” His father says. I go ridgid, my anger sparking. But before I can say anything the mom cuts in.
“Dear there is more to a woman than her looks. Besides this is purely a business arrangement remember.”
That throws my temper into full gear and I stand up ready to tell her exactly what I thought of her and her family and to stuff her “business arrangement.” but Peggy steps in and requests water for me and I glare at her.
She gives me a look as though to say calm but my emotions were anything but calm. The mother waits for water to arrive and then starts again.
“So, soon to be daughter in law, have you any requests for the wedding? I have already had a tailor start your dress this afternoon.”
Hesitating, I pause. My mind hadn’t even considered wedding details. I didn’t much care for the idea at all and I certainly did not want a big ordeal. “Something quick, small and by tomorrow if at all possible. I really want to be on our way to see my father.”
She laughs and the father snorts. The other children glance shyly my way for a moment before going back to their activities.
“That will not be possible at all my dear. The chapel that all the Browns get married in is at least a day’s journey out and the dress will take weeks to be finished. My dear, we will not be having a small wedding, it will be a grand occasion and-” this time mark cuts her off.
“Elise says she wants something small. We need to listen to her wants too. And her father's wishes.”
His mother only brushes his words off. Continuing on about the dress the invites the food and I have already zoned out. If it was going to be weeks away then I would have no choice but go by myself.

Smiling politely all through dinner. the seconds tick by. I could not wait to go home and make my plans with Peggy. As dessert was wrapping up I politely asked for a carriage to get ready to take me home and Mark's mother actually laughed.
“Don’t be silly dear. We have a room for you. It is far too late to be traveling a distance like that.” I set my fork down carefully, my face a mask of fake politeness. “With all due respect I would much rather be at home.” I tell her, staring her down. She takes a sip of her drink. “It is too late, we think it’s best for you to stay here. Especially with all the planning we are to do for the wedding.”
Gripping the arms of my chair I grit my teeth. I didn’t feel like fighting. “Very well then, would someone please show me to the room. I am very tired.” Mark jumps up and a servant appears and they both walk me out. “May I walk with you?” I look at the arm he offered me and roll my eyes. “Are you sure you shouldn’t ask your mother first?” The servant coughs and retreats a little to give us some privacy. Mark sighs and rubs his forehead. “When we are married we will not be living with her. I know she is…….a lot. But she means well.”
Scowling, I brush past him.
“I would rather see myself to my room.” He reaches for my arm before I can leave. His grip was soft and tender. I twist my head back towards him, surprised.
“Elise, please just give me the opportunity to show you who I am.”
I scoff and pull away. He let me this time and the servant came taking me up the stairs and down the hall. Their house was impressive. In fact, Mark was impressive. Nothing like those village boys, or the pompous jerk that would sometimes visit our orchard. He was regal, soft spoken and very handsome. I shove down a blush. He might want me to stay but this wasn’t home. In the room Peggy was waiting. I run up and hug her letting all my emotions out finally. Then hysterical laughter bubbles up and I sit down on the four post bed. When the laughter had died out I stop and wipe my tears.
“Well that didn’t go well I assume?” Peggy sits down next to me and starts unpinning my hair. “Not in the least. He can’t even speak for himself. He lets his mother do all the talking. She says we have to be married in a certain chapel. And it’s a day’s journey. She needs a special gown made for me and doesn’t care what I want, just that our wedding is showcased for society. The only reason they are allowing it is because they get complete rights to my family's cider business if…….if…..my father.” I trail off not wanting to say it.
“What can I do to help?” I look at peggy. Her brown curls framing her face and her golden brown eyes filled with sadness.
“I need to leave. We must find a ship that is leaving tomorrow. And I need my trousers and shirt.”
She nods, getting up to grab her cloak. “I can do that. I will wake the stable boy and have him go with me. We will find something.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her worrying about her going out so late. She smiles and nods. “I’ll be safe.” Then she rushes out.
After she is gone I am left alone in a huge room. The fire is crackling, but otherwise it is quiet. I flop down on the bed and wait. Nobody would be forcing me into things I do not want. I was going to go see my father. Wedding be damned.