LIMERANCE,, benedict bridgerton

xxxi | cry baby cry

Alexandria felt all blood drain from her body at her mothers words. This was the ultimate betrayal, how could her mother do this? She knew her mother was cruel, but this was a whole other level. The fact that Alexandria had been promised to that utterly grotesque man!

"An arraigned marriage, really mama?" Alexandria asked as her voice cracked. She felt like her legs were about to give way. "Take a seat, my dear." Celine said patting the spot next to her as she could sense this was entirely too much for her granddaughter to handle.

"It is necessary." Rosalie said coldly. "I have only been on the marriage mart for a year!" Alexandria exclaimed trying to make a point. "Exactly!" Rosalie exploded. "There has people that have been on the mart for longer! I don't see why I must be married now." Alexandria cried, she was unsure on if she should reveal the news of her proposal.

"Especially to that man of all people!" Alexandria said gesturing wildly at her future husband who she still did not know the name of. "Alexandria!" Rosalie cut in, appalled at her daughter's outburst and for embarrassing her. "What even is your name?" Alexandria asked whipping her head around to the man.

"I cannot believe the manners on this lady!" The man said furiously, spit flying out of his mouth. "I am Lord Jonathan Dudley. You better treat me with respect, Miss Avalon." Jonathan growled and Alexandria scoffed at the audacity.

"What even is your interest in a nineteen year old, you are at least forty eight!" Alexandria spat, not caring she was being rude. "I am forty two!" Jonathan shouted. "I need an heir as I do not have any other children or brothers and my title will just be passed down to some useless cousin. You will make me a son." Jonathan smirked viciously at Alexandria and then his eyes trailed down towards her stomach.

"So all I am to you is a baby making machine?" Alexandria screamed furiously as she stood up from her seat. "Sit down." Thomas spoke up for the first time since she entered the room. Alexandria averted her gaze towards her father with a rage so hot blazing inside of her. "You are just letting this happen father?" She shouted but her father kept his gaze pointed towards the floor.

"You are a coward." Alexandria's voice faltered and she knew she hit him where it hurts. "You will not get away with speaking to me like that in our marriage." Jonathan said gritting his teeth together, she looked around the room but no one was even jumping to her defence.

"Good, because I am not getting married to you." Alexandria shrugged but Jonathan wrapped his meaty hands around her wrists and forced an engagement ring onto her finger. Alexandria managed to wrestle herself away from his tight grip.

Alexandria ripped the ring off her finger and threw it back at him where it hit Jonathan squarely on the middle of his forehead, she heard a slight giggle slip past Marianne's lips. "Alexandria, that is enough! You must apologise and put that ring back on." Rosalie screamed.

"You can shove it where the sun doesn't shine." Alexandria said gritting her teeth and getting close to Jonathan, she wasn't scared of him. Suddenly, his hand reached up and back handed her across the face. The room was silent and sound of the slap rang through the room. Everyone's fave conveyed a different emotion.

"How dare you." Celine said coming to Alexandria's aid, Alexandria held her cheek which was currently stinging. Alexandria nestled her head into the crook of her grandmothers neck, desperate for any comfort at this moment. Marianne stood at Alexandria other side and rubbed her back. At least she had people in her corner.

"Where are you going!" Rosalie shouted as Alexandria started backing out of the room. "Away from you both and Jonathan, you are abhorrent!" Alexandria screamed as she exited the room. "You now need a chaperone if you leave the house!" Jonathan shouted which made Alexandria stop in her tracks. Anytime she had took a walk around Mayfair, she was never chaperoned like her other friends were. Alexandria would not let herself be controlled.