Against Their Wishes

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      Olivia Knight bounced down the stairs of her spacious home. It could not be described as a mansion, but it was large enough to show the world that the family who resided in it had money. She smiled at a few of the maids as she made her way toward her father’s study. Her light green gown billowed around her ankles, and her auburn hair flew behind her as the curls danced in the wind made from her movements. She slowed down as she neared her father’s study and knocked on the thick, wooden door. When she heard his gruff reply, she quietly opened the door, stepped in, and shut it. She walked up to her father’s desk and stopped, waiting for him to speak.

        Lord Ernest Knight was a harsh man. He spent much of his life either drinking or gambling, usually both. He had no business dealings or anything of the like but rather lived off his inheritance. He married a young woman, Olivia’s mother, by the name of Anne. In most ways, their union was perfect. She loved to shop, and he had the money. Neither one of them showed much affection either towards themselves or their daughter. Ernest and Anne had two children, a boy and a girl. Their son, Richard, was much like his father, and, at the present, they did not have a very clear idea of where he was located. Every now and again he would take the time to write a brief letter, but very rarely did it ever describe as to where he was. Ernest and Anne never showed much worry as life was too short to worry over such small things. He was a strong young man, his father’s son, and he could very easily look after himself. After all, he was twenty-one.  Presently, the only child they needed to be bothered about was Olivia. Her dismissal of anything that was a sign of marriage alarmed them as neither one of them had any want to have a child continue to live at home for much longer. She was an extra mouth to feed and to listen to. It was for this reason that Ernest developed a plan to get his daughter out of the house.

        “Olivia,” her father started as her mother quietly walked into the room and shut the door. “You know that it has been our intention to have you married for a few years now. When we had a daughter, we never would have guessed that she would still be living at home by her twenty-third year.  However, you have proved that task to be much more difficult than your mother or I could have anticipated. This is why we have decided that you will be married by your twenty fourth year.” During her father’s speech, Olivia’s jaw gaped a little wider, as did her eyes. Her heart started to beat a little faster at the anticipation of another argument.

        “Father, you know that I am waiting for love. I cannot just marry some man who will wish me to do his bidding. That is not the way this is supposed to work,” Olivia told her father. His cheeks started to grow red at her words.

“Olivia!” he bellowed. She jumped at the anger in his words. “How many times do I have to tell you? Marriage is not about love. Marriage is for a secure future. Your mother and I did not marry for love and neither will you! That is the way of the world.” Olivia’s knees started to tremble. Never had she seen her father this worked up over her decision to marry for love. Of course he had always been mad, but something about this argument seemed different.

“But father,” she started but was cut off by his angry voice.

“There are no ‘buts’ here Olivia. You will be married by the end of your twenty-third year.”

“No, I will not, and there is nothing you can say that will make me,” she said with a confidence she did not completely feel.

“I cannot make you?” he asked, incredulous. “I am your father and you will do as I say or you will be cut off! You have lived here long enough, and if you are unsuccessful in marrying, you will be disowned. Not one penny will be given to you,” he screamed. Horror was written across Olivia’s face as his words found a place in her mind. How could he do this to her? She may be difficult, but she was doing it all for love. She knew in the deepest recess of her heart that she could never be happy with a man she did not love. She had always wanted to get married, just not to a person she didn’t love. She had always had high aspirations for her life. In life, there was one man for every woman, or so she believed. There is a man out there somewhere that will rescue her from the highest of towers and the scariest of dragons. There is a Prince Charming out there somewhere, but now she was being told she would not be able to find him? She could feel her heart breaking as her father continued on with his harsh words.