Across the Midnight Sea

Chapter 4: The Agreement

Adira stood frozen with shock.

"What?" she barely managed to breath the words out. She had to have misheard.

There was no way that her mother would have agreed to this without even asking her...was there?

"I'm surprised they didn't tell you, I was considering you," said Lord Gregory stepping back. He seemed pleased to have won the upper hand in the conversation.

Adira's fingers fisted in the hem of her dress,

The dress...she thought and looked down at the beautiful embroidered gown. 

It was so much more luxurious than anything her mother had given her before. It had felt heavy all night and now she felt the weight of it like it was something that would drag her down to the bottom of the ocean.

"Of course I had to hear you sing in order to decide if you were worthy of sitting at my side," continued Lord Gregory. "Since your looks are not fetching enough to warrant my bringing you up from your low-born status into my house."

The comment about her looks almost didn't register, almost.

Adira felt the skin around her face draw tight.

How could they do this to her?

She had always tried to be a good daughter.

She had known that there was a chance she would have to allign herself into a political marriage but she had always thought that she would have a part in it; that they would ask her or at the very least consult her about her own future.

Lord Warren had made a marriage agreement on her behalf without even consulting her. 

Devastation washed over her as the events of the evening took on a new light.

Her step-father had not asked her to sing for a special guest in order to win him favor. He had asked her to sing so that he could secure her a political marriage.

The high she had been sailing on crashed and she felt as if she were being tossed about on the sea headed for the Isle of Lost souls.

"But I'm not even of age..." she protested, seeking anything to change what was happening. The words sounding weak even to her own ears.

Lord Gregory scoffed.

"Saves your step-father all the trouble  and cost of having a debut for you," he said. "Besides, you couldn't do better. Not with your breeding and looks."

"I'll thank you to stop insulting me sir," said Adira finally finding her feet again. "If we are to be married. I would think that some kind of respect or tenderness should be in order or do you think that I am not worthy of even that?"

Her words and tone caught Lord Gregory off guard and he seemed to consider her for a moment.

"Wooing is for those who do not have the power to take what they want," he finally said. "And tenderness is for the weak."

Adira felt a sliver of ice trickle down the back of her neck and she straightened.

She had known there was a chance she would not be able to marry for love, but she had always hoped she would find someone at least amicable towards her. Someone who feelings could grow for. 

Looking at the man in front of her Adira knew that, regardless of duty, she could not marry someone like him.

"Kindness is not weakness sir," she said rising to her full height. "My father taught me that."