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"Don't leave my side, okay?"
The words I had spoken before the most enchanting moment of my life. It was also the moment when I finally realised my feelings. For months I was too ashamed to admit it, but at the last minute I finally came to my senses. But I never told her. I kept it inside of me, and now I must pay the price by marrying a man whom I will never love.
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"Now this young man is from the Nevilla household; his name is Florian. He is the last of our eligible husbands for you. And please try to be polite this time; we don't want another..." Isabella’s father lowered his voice. "Incident."
The carriage halted, and Isabella stepped outside. She was greeted with a great mansion. It was a sandy colour, contrasting with the greenery around it. There were too many windows to count, each one taller than her, making her feel like a mouse in the presence of a lion.
"So you must be Miss Isabella York."
The girl standing in front of the house had long, strawberry blond hair up to her waist. Her eyes were a deep brown, highlights of caramel, tawny, cinnamon, taupe, sienna, bronze, every shade you could conjure in your mind, inhabited her irises. She wore a warm smile, which gave her a dimple on one cheek. It was charming, too charming, so charming that Isabella had to glance at the stony path, slightly moving her foot so it didn't meet a crack.
"I will take you to meet the young Master."
The girl smiled and led Isabella and her father into the house. She sighed in dread, but as she opened her mouth to breathe in again, she was met with a sweet, sickly smell. Yellow chrysanthemums adorned the tables, which contrasted the patterned burgundy walls. The ceiling was adorned with depictions of nude men and women, lounging around on grassy fields. Her disgust was immeasurable, but as she locked eyes with the man she was being forced to marry she felt more nauseous than ever.
“Good morning, Miss York.” He smiled. She didn't say a word. “Could we please have some time to get to know one another? Alone?” He gestured to the staff, who followed Isabella’s father out of the room. She clenched her fists.
There was silence. Before he could speak, Isabella interrupted. “I have no intention of marrying you,” Isabella said plainly. However, unlike the other bachelors she encountered, he simply chuckled. “You think I don't know that? Villagers gossip, you know. You turn down every bachelor you meet,” he snickered. “People call you ‘The Untamable Beast’!” He erupted into a fit of giggles, causing Isabella to turn a deep scarlet. After he finally composed himself, he cleared his throat. “Anyway, I want to marry you because I already have a lover. She's from the nearby village, so I have to keep it a secret from my pa. That's where you come in.” He mimicked a drum roll. “I court you, we get married, and we can lead our separate love lives. No strings attached. I'm sure you also have a secret lover back at home.” he winked, and she winced.
“Something like that,” Isabella muttered, glancing at the floor, stifling a smile.
“Aha, you do! So, do you accept?” He held out his hand.
She hesitated. She could run out of the door this very moment, away from this man and live a free life, instead of this life of secrecy. But then she realised… it's all a fantasy. She thought about the girl with strawberry blond hair. If she ran away, she would never see her again. She thought about Taylor. She is living this life for her sake. So she can be safe.
She took his hand. “I accept.”
Florian grinned. “I knew you would!”
“But,” she paused, “I want you to change the chrysanthemums to violets."