A Sicilian Marriage [PUBLISHED]

Chapter 6: The Preparation

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Rafe Moretti's POV

A few days later after the agreement, I had with the Spencer heiress. I took a deep breath as I stood at the foyer of the house of Corrine Cordelia Spencer's parents. Even if, we would be marrying for practical reasons, still I want to do this right. In Sicily, it's a custom that the man would ask the hand of his bride-to-be to her parents before he even permitted himself to propose to the woman.

And in this case, I would do it. After so much debate and preparation inside my head, I took a final deep breath and make myself known. A few moments later, Corrine's mother opened the front door with a smile on her face. "Hi, so we meet again. Come inside."

I smiled shyly in her direction, as I stepped inside their home. "I'm sorry if I came without notice."

"That's okay." She replied, closing the door behind her. "My husband told me that one of these days he is sure you will come for a visit. Come, he's on the second floor."

She led me to the second floor of the house. While ascending on the staircase I couldn't help but be amazed at their house. It was far different from the Spencer Manor with the aristocratic ambiance. This one was modern and cozy, it makes you feel welcome.

Corrine's mother knocked at the door at the end of the hallway. "We have visitor, dear." She announced before entering the room.

I silently followed her inside the room. I saw Corrine's father stood from the study table and smiled at me as he gestured to the sofa sets. "This is a surprise. Please make yourself comfortable."

I returned his welcoming smile with my slight force. Okay, I could finally confess that I was nervous as hell. Elijah Spencer was more welcoming than my godfather, Cesare Fiorenza, who was known for being aloof and reclusive but I never felt this kind of nervousness while talking to my godfather now that I stood in front of Elijah.

"I will leave the two of you to talk." Corrine's mother had said, closing the door behind.

"Please, have a seat." Elijah offered the sofa once we were alone. "I'm surprised that my daughter didn't come with you today."

I sat on the sofa a bit tensely. "She doesn't know that I will come for a visit today, sir. In fact, she's in Paris right now."

That information got him arrested. "Is she?" He asked pleasantly with a tilt of his eyebrow. "Then this is not a social visit, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir," I answered casually, though I shifted in my position. "The reason I came here early this morning is to formally ask your daughter's hand in marriage. I know I should have done this before Corrine announced our engagement in the memorial service of your father."

Elijah Spencer held a private smile on his face. "So the two of you were serious back then? I thought she's just bluffing when she announced that the two of you were engaged. I have to be honest with you. I'm surprised to learn about your engagement because I haven't met you before the service."

"I know you must have a reservation with our union," I said after a moment. "I cannot blame you, sir. Your daughter is marrying a complete stranger and you are worried."

He nodded in agreement. "That's correct. Why the rush? Is she pregnant already? That's why you are in a hurry to marry?"

I couldn't help but the heat that spread through my cheeks. "No, sir. I want to be honest with you. She's not pregnant and the reason we are marrying is that..." Dio, how should I explain this to her father?