Their Tempting Bride by Lacey Davis
4
The pounding on her bedroom door had stopped around midnight. She had fallen into a fitful sleep, and this morning, she was trying to decide whether to make a run for it or to retreat to a nunnery.
But she was not going to let that smelly man put his hands on her. She would die first.
With a sigh, she rose from bed and put on her robe before she sat at the table in front of her window. For years, this had been her outlet to looking at the world. The neighborhood, the city of Butte, the mountains in the distance.
This was where she dreamed of her future, her husband, and eventually, the children they would have. This was where she tried to imagine what her husband would look like and in none of her dreams did Mr. Bartlett take center stage. Oh, no, never.
A knock sounded on the door. With a sigh, she knew she had to give in sooner or later.
“Georgia, it’s your mother. Let me in.”
Never before had she locked her parents out of her room, but last night, she didn’t want to speak to them. She needed time to understand why they would do this to her. She needed the time to decide how to handle this arranged marriage.
This morning, she knew this could not continue. In her robe, she opened the door to her mother who swept into the room.
“I know you’re upset. I’m upset. But you need to understand your father agreed to your marriage to Mr. Bartlett.”
Her mother didn’t glance at her but began to pace the room back and forth in front of her window. A butterfly flew gaily by the glass panes and Georgia wished she could fly away so easily.
“Mr. Bartlett came to your father. You would be a wealthy woman. He owns the richest mine in Montana.”
“Well, why don’t we just put my virginity up for auction. We can sell it to the richest man in town.”
In the light, her mother’s face turned red. “Georgia, stop it,” her mother said.
A sinking feeling began in the pit of her stomach. How had this happened? Why would they believe he was a good man for her?
“All these years, I’ve dreamed of my husband-to-be courting me. A handsome man close to my age. Someone who didn’t look at me like they couldn’t wait to rape me, but who gazed at me with love.”
“Young lady, watch your language.” Her mother sighed. “Marriage is not like that. Your father and I barely knew each other when we were married. It’s not all hearts and flowers and happily ever after. Sometimes we have to make our choices based on what’s practical. This man is rich. You’ll be rich.”
“Money is more important than happiness? This is forever and I don’t even like this man. He smells. He’s gross and his son is creepy.”
“Yes,” her mother said. “Sometimes we have to make choices that don’t seem like what we want.”
The man was mean, and she was supposed to give herself to him in order to have money?
She’d rather die poor than let that old man paw at her body.
“Isn’t there anyone else? He’s not nice. Did you know he pinched me under the table last night? This is who you want me to marry?”
Her mother’s shoulders sagged. “No, I had no idea.”
“Yes, and his son is bizarre. The way he called me mother last night was chilling.”
What did she do now? Give herself to a man that made her cringe with disgust? The very thought of the marriage bed sent shivers through her.
“Papa is all right with me marrying this man? He’s so much older than me.”
A sigh came from her mother and she wiped away tears. “Yes. It’s for the best. For you and for us. He’s your father’s boss. He owns the mine and your father is getting up there in years. He could let him go and then how would we live?”
In the bright morning sunshine streaming through the window, Georgia then realized what her mother was trying to say, which left her with no choice. She loved her parents and would do whatever it took to keep them safe. Even marry Mr. Bartlett.
“It’s just that I was so attracted to Mr. Hamilton yesterday. And even his friend, Mr. Perkins, seemed exceptionally nice. Either of these men I would have accepted. Even been thrilled about. Mr. Bartlett would be my last choice of a husband.”
Her mother’s head tilted toward her. She gazed at Georgia, a strange look on her face. “I’ve got to run an errand. There may be a way out of this mess.” She lifted her skirts and all but ran out the door.
That was strange. It was like she suddenly received a burst of inspiration. Hopefully, she could save Georgia from marriage to that awful man. Though she still didn’t understand why the urgency? Why now?
