A Complicated Arrangement

Chapter 7

Isabelle's POV

"Bella!"

"Bella get up!"

I open my eyes and turn on my bed. What was that? I could have sworn that I heard someone. I let out a small stretch and just as I was about to lie down I hear a loud bang on my bedroom door.

"Bella! Open this door right now!" Called Reena (my tutor).

Oh! I jumped out of bed and rushed to open the door. I pried it open guiltily for making her wait so long. "I'm truly sorry, Reena. I was asleep and-"

"Oh hush girl! You should be sorry. Do you even know what time it is?! 10 in the morning! 10! This is not time for a lady to be rising, especially a wife." She glared daggers at me.

Good god. She is calling me wife now? Just being called that reminds me of that idiot who dared to touch me last night. I shuddered at the thought. "I am not a wife. I am not even married"  I responded, sounding annoyed.

"You mean not yet. You must prepare yourself for your future with your new husband. You have to assume the responsibilities of one now to impress your husband" said Reena. I scoffed. Did she just say impress him?

"Look Bella, I know that you may not be ready for marriage but you are getting married and I want this to be an easy transition for you. Learn the ways of being a responsible woman, a responsible wife." She looked deeply in my eyes with much concerned. I never noticed how much she cared for me. I know that she have worked here for years training me to be an educated and well-mannered lady, but I never considered her to be ever so caring towards me.

"Now go my dear. Go freshen up. There is much to learn.

......

My lessons with Reena was always interesting. She could make the most unappealing topic the most exciting and the make the hardest ones seem easy. Now that I have already mastered many basic and advanced studies, not to mention a few languages, it was time for me to learn new topics of life.

Reena centralized my current studies as to how to be a new wife. Sounds like an odd topic, but my mother suggested it. My family grew so attached to her that mother had to find something for her to do to keep her here. Anyhow, I was taught how to become socialized, for future societal events that I will be attending with my future husband. I was taught basic medical treatments such as herbal remedies, bandaging and cpr in the event that something ever was to happen to him and there was not a doctor nearby.

Although it is know that I will have servants, she still taught me basic duties just in case I needed to perform them when I am alone. She taught me cleaning, laundry, sewing and beauty tips, amongst other things. My favourite was the beauty tips. She was not sure how talented the maids at my husband's side would be, so she wanted to ensure that I knew what to do to always look my best. That includes hairstyling, make up and maintaining clean and clear skin.

She taught me organizational skills, event management and time management. This is to ensure that I can be capabke of running a house. She nasically taugh me how to be the boss if the groom's home. I like that. As a matter of fact, I am glad that she was teaching me these things. I could just act the opposite way to ward that man off. I smirked to myself.

....

Later that evening, I sought out my father.

"My child, what brings you here? How are you doing with Reena?" He smiled warmly while hugging me.

"I am understanding her teachings well, father. As usual, she is an impeccable tutor." I replied, smiling.

"Just as you are an impeccable learner. You are very smart my dear. I am proud of you"

Hearing him praise me filled my heart with hurt. I am afraid that I will disappoint him with what I am about to say.

"Father I came to talk about my marriage"

"That is good. I would also like to talk about it. What would you want to-" he paused, after reading the look on my face. "Is everything alright?"

"Well, I know that I promised to get married, and I know I will father. It is just that..." I audibly sighed, searching for the right words to say.

He paled. "You made a promise. You cannot back out of this marriage. I do not want to see you go, but I must make sure that you have a bright future. I see good things ahead for you and Lionel. He is a great suitor. What can be the problem now?"

"Father I cannot marry him-"

"Why not!" He boomed.

Tears streamed down my face from the confrontation. "He cannot love me father. He simply cannot! Elizabeth does. Not I. Please, do not make me marry the man that my dear Elly loves."

He paused for moment after sighing. "I see. When did this happen?"

"She- she met him before me. She used to run off to see him ever so often and fell for him from the start."

"Does Lionel love her as well?"

"No. I know it sounds bad but he does not know her. She used to see him but he never noticed her." I blurted out. Choose your words wisely Bella! You are beginning to sound absurd!

"Then there is no problem. She is just infatiated with him. She will get over him. I do not see any reason to break off this promised marriage to my good friend's son."

"No! You are not listening. I cannot go through this. Please consider Elly."

"I am. She is young, you are older and more mature. She does not understand love and neither you at this moment. The girl is just feeling an attraction towards the man. She would overcome it. It is not love. Now go, I do not want to hear of this again"

Before I stormed out of the room, I looked back at him and said, " I hope you are happy for what you have done. You will make your best friend's son a very unhappy man for he will never have my heart and he will never get anything from me. I will bear him no children and you will never have a grandchild. I could never love the man that my friend, no my sister, loves.

I slammed the door and retired early to my room for the night.