A Story
She sat on her bed thinking about everything her mother had just told her and wondered how her life had come to this…Marriage! She must get married to a stranger, all so her father could pay off the people he owed money to. It was like she was a piece of cattle and not a person.
“Alexis,” Her father, John McKeon, called through the door. “Open the door, sweetheart.”
“Go away! You do not even care that you are ruining my life,” Alexis shouted at him.
Her father opened the door anyway and stood in the doorway, looking at her, he said, “Alexis, you must think about your siblings. As the oldest, it is your responsibility to help secure their futures. Without the money that comes with your marriage, your brother and sisters would have to go to the workhouses.”
“I know, father, but couldn’t you have at least picked someone who wasn’t so old,” Alexis said as she started to cry.
“The Duke of Winterfil is not the man that you are marrying. You are to marry his son and heir, Silverman, or Sil for short,” Alexis’ father explained, as he turned and left.
Walking into his study, he stands in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames. His wife, Julia, walks in and puts her arms around him. They stand like that for a time and then Julia asked, “What do you know about this boy you promised our daughter to?”
“I do not know much, besides the fact that he went to Oxford and will take over his father’s estate when it comes time. He has not been home in three years,” John sighed. Turning towards his wife, he said, “Julia, we need the money. I will not stand to see our kids go to the workhouses.”
“Honey, is marrying off our oldest daughter really the only option?” Julia asked as she walked to the sideboard to pour her husband a drink.
“Yes, it is the only choice. At least she will not be too far from home. The Duke promised he would completely pay off our debt if Alexis marries Sil. Not to mention the five million pounds he is paying us,” John said taking the glass of scotch from his wife.
“What about Alexis’ happiness?” Julia asked as she walked over to the couch by the fire.
“Not everyone can marry for love, Julia. Sometimes, you must sacrifice the happiness of one to preserve the happiness of the rest. You and I married for love, and it almost cost us everything. I am just trying to make a future for all our children. Alexis understands and if she does not then she will soon,” John said finishing his scotch. Setting his glass tumbler back on the sideboard, he walked out of the room leaving his wife to wonder if there was more to this than John was telling her. Julia stood and walked upstairs to Alexis’ room.
Alexis was brushing her hair when her only brother, Mark, walked in and sat next to her at the vanity.
“Lexi, why do you have to get married and move out? I do not want you to leave,” Mark said starting to cry. Alexis put her brush down and turned to take her brother in her arms.
“Mark, I must get married, so you and the others will not end up in the workhouses. You know that I will do anything to keep you and the girls happy and healthy. I love you all so much,” Alexis said holding her brother as he sobbed.
“I know, Lexi, but I will still miss you,” Mark said through his tears. Alexis just hugged Mark tighter and said, “I will miss you too.”
“Alright you two bedtime,” Julia said standing in the doorway, having seen the whole thing. She realized that John had been right. Alexis did understand, she was just upset that she had not been informed about it before now.
“Yes mother,” Mark said pulling away from Alexis. Standing up, he gave Alexis another hug and then went and hugged his mother on his way out of the room.
“Alexis,” Julia started to say but Alexis interrupted, saying, “Mother, I know father is only trying to protect Mark and the girls, but he could have at least asked to meet with the man he basically sold me to.”
“I know, sweetheart, but Sil is in London on business for the next week,” Julia replied as she walked over and picked up Alexis’ brush and started brushing her daughter’s hair. “Your father could not wait ‘til then. The collectors are demanding he pays in full but this Friday.”
“Oh,” Alexis said, relaxing into her mother’s brushing, feeling like the 16-year-old that she was.
“It is not like you will be marrying someone your father’s age. Sil is only nineteen, which means he is only three years older than you. Be grateful that it was Duke Winterfil who came forward with a marriage contract before the Duke of Springmill. The Duke Springmill has no sons and wants a young bride to try and get sons,” Julia told Alexis. Seeing the look on Alexis’ face in the mirror, Julia realized that Alexis did not know that it was an actual contract and not just an agreement. Alexis had just realized that her fate was sealed in a marriage contract.
“It is times like this that I really hate being the oldest,” Alexis said.
“You might but you know that you would not put this burden on any of your siblings. You love them so much,” Her mother said, as she finished brushing and braiding her oldest hair. Julia wrapped her arms around her daughter, knowing that she would have a told with her other children in the morning.
“True, but I would have still like to have been consulted before the contracted was signed. It feels like there is more than father is telling me. I just want to know that I am not being married off to someone that will hurt me or worse keep me from seeing you Father, and Mark and the girls,” Alexis said as she stood to move over to the bed for the night.
“I know darling, but we will have to wait and see,” Julia said as she tucked her oldest in for the night. “Good night. I will see you in the morning at breakfast. We still must explain everything to the rest of the kids.”
“Good night, Mother,” yawned Alexis, already starting to fall asleep having had such an emotional day.
Julia blew out the candles and left the room to check on the other children.