Alfonso's Bride

Home- 1

So she'll do for Helena.......

Home...

"Ma please tell pa to stop... I don't want to go yet. I'm embarrassed and scared... Give me another day please. One more day- just to prepare. For him to prepare for my coming. Please papa. Ma...talk to him please." Helena was close to tears making her British accent sound deeper.

"It's for the company honey... Do it for Pa,"

"But it's too soon... It is so short a notice. You told me only yesterday." A stray and lonely tear fell and she stood up and stretched her hand towards her mother imploringly.

"Helena... You are twenty-seven years now. It had to happen soon. You have to do this for me honey."

"But papa...."

"Honey... Please, you shall comply. We are not discussing, okay?"
"Yes, Pa."

"Good, now go and-"

"Nicolas, don't..." Lady Marla chipped in but was brushed away sooner than she just began.

"Marla, go and help her pack. Her bags will be taken to Diego's tomorrow. After the wedding she will go straight there but she can come here first so you can take her there." He said the final word.

Helena broke down in a sob as she clutched the neck of her dress as a soul would cling on a body on one's deathbed.

She didn't want to comply.

She didn't want to go.

She wanted to be home.

No, home was not a solid suggestion.

Home was no more.

"Give me a year... No a week, I will find someone to marry. I will be out in a week. I will choose the one to marry. I will not marry sir Diego please..."

"It's for the common good of the company. You are to do it and you will do it happily. One day you will thank me when you see your father finally prospering. You will realise then that all this fuss was nothing but a waste of time. So now dear, this is just a bad dream. When you get to Clanville you will realise that it is indeed the right place to be. So cheer up for you will, and happily you will oblige."

"Yes... I will papa." Confidence could be hinted. "But not happily. I will marry sir Diego and I will go to Clanville. In fact I will pack all my belongings and never set a foot here. If Mama wants to visit me then you will hire a car or rather if you are comfortable saddle her. I look forward to the day you will prosper. I hope karma does not attack before you-"

"Young lady, you do not talk thus to your pa."

"Yes pa I can. I am of marriageable age now. Or I am a woman to be married tomorrow. I can-"

"Watch your mouth and tame your language."

"Away with the shallow disguise of manners. I shall say what I need to say. Tomorrow...at the wedding, I say my own vows. The vows you have written I shall not say. Dislike me from my behavior if you think it rude but I shall say what I want and what I want is the truth. So, I shall write my own vows tonight. Do not expect me to get steamy on the-"

"That is hooligan language..."

"Yes pa it is. I shall revise my words- do not expect me to oblige to the kiss. I will do it as a duty and part of the ceremony but not to quench my womanly lust. I will not ruin the wedding..." She stood up and straightened the hem of her dress, it was like a spirit had taken control of her till she could not feel her words or even tame her thought. She sniffed and ran her forefinger on her upper lip before wiping away the tears in her eyes. She had a backbone too, why cry or remain stoical when her father was off hand.

"I will do it for the common good of the family, a family without me. Ma, you should not trouble yourself I will pack, no choice since I am getting all. There is nothing you can help with. I need to be alone too."

"You don't have to take everything after Diego Senior signs the pact you break the marriage and come home."

"A man of loose morals," Nicholas thrust his forehand at her which caught her on the chin and she fell on the counting a series of stars in the air before spitting, "A brood of vipers."

"What happened to you? You never had this side," Nicholas' voice was paradoxically calm. He held her by the chin looking at her eyes as if he could see the answer to his question.

"I will vow to be with him for ever and I would keep that even if it hurts so much. So don't make me any more heathen. I will not vow till death do us part in front of the church then two falls later pretend I never said such a thing? That is not how holy matrimony works. It is everlasting unless he too is aware that after you sign I will leave."

"Helly...."

"Ma, I have to tell him."

Marla held her hand by the elbow and she turned blood shot in her eyes.

"Your father knows... What is best for..."

"Knows what is best for him. What is best for the company but what about what is best for Ma and Helen-"

"Don't you dare use yourself in third person when talking to me okay?"

"I didn't realise that this had developed into a fight. I shall never dare again father. It's just that anger took a gruesome advantage of my calm." Her voice was calm but a hint of defiance could be spotted.

"Go and get your luggage ready. Tomorrow you shall be wedded."

She did not cry as she dragged herself to her room. Tears were no more. They had already come out with her pained words. Her heart was heavy but her tear glands were dry. She did feel like screaming. Oh she sure did. But a wail without tears would prove her as a spoilt brat.

She got in and firmly closed the door behind her before sitting on her bed with a sigh. She was living Glandolle tomorrow- she was going to miss it but this was going to be her new life now so it would be best she did not expect much for God knows what she was going to find in Clanville.

She removed her trunk from under the bed slowly...

***
I did it!

Enjoy coz I am.

I write for you... Read for me.