Briar Woods (Re-working)

Chapter 28: The Betrothal

"What do you mean we are betrothed? How can that be? This is the first I have heard of this. You must be mistaken." I blurted out incredulously.

Just then, Edric appeared around the corner. Stopping short, he looked to Lady Von Dane and then to me. Seeing the look on my face his gaze narrowed and he approached cautiously.

"What is it the two of you have been discussing mother?" Edric questioned suspiciously.

"I was just visiting with your father." I answered for her. "Apparently, there are other secrets you have been keeping from me. I placed my hands on my hips indignantly. He raised his eyebrow.

"How is it that no one felt inclined to ask let alone inform me that we are betrothed?" It seemed everyone knew more about my life than I did. Was I a means to an end for everyone?

"Our betrothal was agreed to before you father disappeared, Thea. There wasn't an opportunity to inform you before." Edric explained slowly stepping closer to me.

"How lovely it is to find out that my life is not my own and I have no say in any of it! I regret to inform you my lord, I will not marry you, Sir Gregory, or anyone else, unless I choose to." Angrily I stepped through the door to my room and door shut with a thud.

Angrily I paced the floor. What else was I to find out? Funny how when I woke that morning I had longed for answers and now I was getting more than I bargained for.

It was devastating to realize that I meant so little to everyone in my life. They had purposely kept me in the dark and manipulated me at every turn, including my father. The man who had yet to show me any consideration, let alone inform me that he was alive.

I felt angry tears stream down my face. Hearing the door open I turned to see Edric come in and calmly shut the door.

We said nothing for a time. Finally he broke the silence. "Say it. Say all those things building up inside of you. I know you are not happy about our betrothal but your anger is coming from another place. All you have learned today would be enough to bring a grown man to his knees. So let it all out here and now. You must, for we have precious little time. As difficult as these last few months have been, I fear they will only get worse."

"What do you want me to say?" I cried. "Right now, I'm so angry. Everyone has been lying to me—manipulating me." Pointing a finger in his direction angrily, "And do not tell me it was to protect me. Keeping me in the dark does not protect me." Walking to the window I stared out at the ocean hoping the rolling waves would help calm my frazzled nerves.

I have felt so alone, and my father didn't care enough to let me know he was alive.

Edric spoke from behind me. "Thea, I know how upset you must be. Your father didn't come to you because he didn't care, but because he didn't want to endanger you. As long as Gregory believed you were ignorant, you would remain safe. Although I have not seen him myself, I know he has not been far away. He has been watching over you all along."

"As for myself, I have tried to gain your trust. If I had just come to you and told you everything, you never would have believed me. Look how you responded when I offered publicly a truce between us. Yes, our fathers had put to rest many of their hard feelings, but I wanted you to know that I am here to help you."

Looking back, I realized Edric had been trying to tell me the truth of everything. I was so untrusting I would not listen.

"I didn't know who to trust." I said quietly.

Changing the subject Edric asked. "A moment ago in the hall, you claimed you would not marry me, or Sir Gregory." He hesitated a moment and then asked, "Has he offered marriage to you?"

Looking at him I replied. "He did." I clenched my fists at the memory. "He stood there claiming to be protecting me and insisted that us marrying was the only solution." I felt furry well up inside of me. "And the whole time he knew Kenton was being attacked at that very moment. He is responsible for all of the deaths and all of the destruction." I suddenly felt faint and sat down in an armchair.

"He's been manipulating me all along. I'm such a fool!" I cried.

Crouching in front of me, Edric took my hands in his. "You're no fool Thea. You couldn't have known he was responsible."

"You said I was going to be abducted, was it Sir Gregory?" I asked. Realizing how close I had come to a terrible fate.

"He has been behind all of it Thea; all of the attacks, your father and brother, all of it. I have been trying to track down these bands of criminals he has recruited to terrorize and scare everyone. You see, we believe he suspects your father is alive and hiding among the people. These criminals are not meant just to intimidate and scare, I believe they are trying to flush out your father and find where he is."

"If my father suspects Sir Gregory has Freddy somewhere, what purpose would he have to abduct me? He already has all the leverage he needs." I questioned.

Edric moved to the other chair and sighed as he sat down." I do not know for certain, although I suppose there are many reasons why he would. Now, knowing that he has offered marriage to you, I'm inclined to believe that he may have wanted to scare you into consenting to marriage. Think about it Thea, he has someone abduct you and then he gallantly comes to your rescue; thereby convincing you that marrying him is your only choice."

He paused for a moment as if he were working out the possibilities in his mind. "If he marries you he would legally inherit your fathers land." Edric continued.

Shaking my head I insisted, "Not with my father and brother still alive."

"As far as everyone else is concerned, your father and brother are dead. In Gregory's arrogance he most likely believes he will be able to find your father. Since we are fairly certain he knows where Fred is, how hard do you believe it would be for him to make them both disappear permanently."

"I am not going to marry him, and he doesn't know me very well, if he really believes I would ever agree to marry him under any circumstance. I'm not a helpless damsel that can be coerced into anything I don't want to do." I replied indignantly.

I scowled at the chuckle he didn't even bother to hide. Grinning he said, "No my dear, you most certainly are not."

I regarded him for a moment and added. "You can't really believe that just because you say we are betrothed that I will marry you either. You will find it a most difficult task to convince me to do so."

"Difficult you say", Edric thought on my words for a moment and then suddenly standing and walking to the door, he turned and grinned. "You didn't say it would be impossible, so that means I have a chance." He winked at me and then he was gone before I could throw my shoe at his head. Instead the shoe hit the door and I cursed his name under my breath.