This is a work of fiction, any similarities to persons living or dead is completely coincidental. I hope that you don't think this story is too long and drawn out, I like stories that take you some place in the end, and getting there is half the fun. This is far removed from what I have done so far, I hope not too far, but I love this romantic era. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Buckingham could not imagine her life coming to this, as she set sail to a land she knew nothing about. But this was her only choice or else spend the rest of her life with a man that she could never love and be a prisoner in her own home.
At 24 Elizabeth was the only daughter of Charles Buckingham, she was a beautiful figure of a woman with her long dark hair, and deep green eyes and he was determined to see her married before he died. Every suitor that had come to call on her she would turn him down after he proposed marriage. Her father had now taken steps to ensure that she would marry or else forfeit her inheritance upon his death.
Elizabeth could not abide her fathers choice in husband for her, Lyle Kenworthy was a despicable man, she had met him when he had come to the house to meet with her father. Her father had asked him to stay for tea, and he was more than happy to. Happy to sit across from her and leer at her, he made her feel completely uncomfortable. His dark hair and dark eyes made him look all the more sinister.
That evening her father had told her that he had made an agreement with Mr. Kenworthy for her hand in marriage, that he would become the chief purchasing agent for her fathers shipping company upon her marriage to him.
"You have no right to give consent for me to marry anyone," she said angrily as she paced back and forth in front of the fire place.
"I have every right, if I leave it up to you, you will never marry and my business will be sold and its profits given away. I will not have it I tell you, I will not," as he pounded his desk.
"You can not mean for me to wed so unhappily father, I do not wish to marry Lyle Kenworthy, nor do I wish to marry any man. I just simply cannot," she shot back at her father as she sat in the high back chair.
"Elizabeth, be reasonable. You cannot possibly go on as you are without the care and protection of a husband. I will not be around much longer I fear, and I am determined to see you married before I die. If it has to be to Lyle Kenworthy then so be it. But you will marry him."
"I will not marry him father and you cannot make me, I don't love him."
"It's not a matter of love anymore my dear, for years I let you pick and choose your suitors, but to no avail. You turned down each one when he became too serious and proposed marriage. You are 24 my dear and most young women at your age have been married for years and have several children running about."
"Most women my age are innocent women who think that falling in love and being the happy wife, serving as hostess at endless parties is all there is to life. But not for me father, I don't want to be some kind of lady wife who only thinks of her husband first. I have my own mind and I want to be able to use it."
"What is it that you think you would use it for?"
"I would use it to run the company, father. I know I could do it, I watched you for years, I have always loved going to the office with you when I was younger, I loved being around the ships, wondering where they were going and what exciting things lay in their future as they sailed from the harbor. So you see father, when you die I will be able to run it. It won't be sold it will carry on as it has for all these years."
"No, I won't have it. You're a woman and women do not run companies, they marry and raise children. That is what you will do as well. It has already been settled. You will marry Mr. Kenworthy, and if you do not, you will be sent to the convent, the company sold and the money given to distant relatives and you'll never see a cent of it."
Her father stomped across the floor grabbed her by the arms, looking her deep in the eyes. He loved his daughter, he truly did but he would not have all that he worked for go to complete strangers purely because she refused to marry. She would marry and live well, he made sure of that in the contract that he signed with Kenworthy. She would never want for anything, and he would rest knowing that fact.
Elizabeth stared at her father in fear as he held her arms, she could not believe this was the same man that laughed with her when she was young when she pretended to be a sailor on one of the ships. Laughed when she said she wanted to become a sailor and sail the seas in search of new and exciting places to visit. She softened a bit when she saw in his eyes the tears that he would not allow to flow. He released her then and she hugged her father.
Elizabeth returned to her bed chamber, and laid upon the bed sobbing, she would have to marry that vile man, or go to a convent and become a nun. That was something she just could not do. She could not see herself, locked away with no freedom, a prisoner.
Etta her ladies maid knocked silently at the chamber door, "Miss, your father wishes you to join him for dinner."
"Etta please inform my father that I am feeling a bit under the weather and I wish to stay within my chamber for the evening but I thank him for asking after me."
"Yes mi-lady," she curtsied and left the room.
Elizabeth walked to the large windows drew the drapes, darkening the room. She turned down the lamp so only the glow from the fireplace filled the room. Sitting down in the lounger beside the fire, she thought of her situation. How could she get out of this? She had no good answers, all the things that came to mind led to losing everything including her freedom, she couldn't do that. The next morning Elizabeth walked into the dining room, her father was already there drinking his morning coffee before heading to the office.
"Good morning my dear, did you sleep well?"
"Good morning father, yes thank you."
"I have Mrs. Williams coming this morning to help you with the wedding plans; the wedding will be in one month. Mr. Kenworthy will be calling for you this afternoon at 3, please be ready. You will be going to see the vicar and making the arrangement for the ceremony."
"But father a month is hardly enough time to plan a proper wedding."
"It can be done and it will be done, you and Mr. Kenworthy will be married in one months time Elizabeth, and I'll not have any more complaints or arguments about it. Now, I must be heading to the office, I will be showing your husband the ropes of running such a large company," he walked to her gave her a peck on the forehead and left the room.
Elizabeth could hardly believe that this was happening to her, as Etta came in and placed her meal before her. "No thank you Etta, I don't believe I could eat anything just now."
"As you wish mi-lady, might I give you my warmest congratulations on your coming marriage to Mr. Kenworthy."
"You may not, I wish no congratulations on this farce of a wedding, it's not a happy anything, it's my fathers doing, not mine. I'll thank you to keep your happy words about this wedding to yourself is that clear Etta."
Her head hung low, "Yes Miss, I did not mean to cause you any discomfort. I will remember."
Grabbing Etta's hand, "I'm sorry Etta I did not mean to take my anger of this wedding business on you, your more than just a maid to me you're my friend. It's alright Etta, things will work out, I hope.
As the hour grew closer to 3 when Mr. Kenworthy was to arrive to call for her, Elizabeth's fear grew as well. She had never been with a man before and she feared being so near to this one. She was unsettled by his presence she did not understand why, yet.
