{"id":194,"date":"2021-12-15T12:31:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T12:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/?p=194"},"modified":"2021-12-15T12:31:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T12:31:39","slug":"afsaneh-inconvenient-manners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/afsaneh-inconvenient-manners\/","title":{"rendered":"Afsaneh \u2013 Inconvenient Manners"},"content":{"rendered":"

A pair of spectacles sat perched on the narrow bridge of his nose as he read. Lauren contemplated clearing her throat or tapping her foot on the floor to gain his attention, but decided against it; her grandfather never looked like he was in good spirits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have found a way for you to be useful,\u201d he finally announced.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have?\u201d she asked, confused.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am to be called sir,\u201d he stated. \u201cClearly, your parents did not value good manners.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly your parents never valued family.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it then, sir?\u201d she ground out.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He was dissatisfied but continued. \u201cYou have been here for three months and five days.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And approximately twelve hours.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. I am very thankful for your generosity,\u201d she sincerely answered.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBe that as it may, it is time you should not need to rely on it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren waited silently for an explanation. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have found you a suitable partner.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPartner for what?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarriage. He will, thankfully, accept you despite all the flaws you exhibit.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarriage?!\u201d she said, incredulous. \u201cBut I am still in mourning!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. But you are no beauty; and frankly, why bother with the expenses for another nine months without hope of a return?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren would have retaliated, but she knew it was true. She had never been an English rose with looks to inspire poetry. She was pleasant to look at, but nothing extraordinary, and that was not enough to spark passion or longing in a gentleman.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I. . . \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is all,\u201d he concluded.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren stepped back as if the stern reply had physically struck her, and met the intense glare on his weathered face. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think. . .\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one bloody cares what you think!\u201d the man boomed. \u201cYour measurements are with the modiste right now. You will meet Mr Atherton tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow,\u201d she croaked, before his valet escorted her to her chamber. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Temporary chamber.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Afternoon loomed into view, and Lauren was sat in the parlour of Grange Hall, her fingers nervously knotted into the green muslin of her gown. To think, the first time she was wearing colour and it was for her fianc\u00e9. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fianc\u00e9 . . . Christ, that sounded terrifying.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She stood at the sound of a masculine voice, and swallowed the painful lump in her throat as he entered with a reassuring smile. He deftly pried her hand away from her gown, and raised it to his lips. \u201cYou\u2019re nervous.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBit of an understatement,\u201d she said shakily.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps I can help,\u201d he murmured. In explanation, his other hand found its way to the small of her back, and he ran his fingers downwards like raindrops sliding on a window pane. Cool and tranquil and scalding rain drops. Like his touch.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What an asinine thought.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d she gasped.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He raised an amused brow, \u201cSoothing you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do not need soothing. \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI beg to differ, my dear,\u201d he drawled.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo not<\/i> call me dear!\u201d she tore out.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou will hear it plenty once you\u2019re Mrs Atherton,\u201d he said, seating himself in the wingback opposite her, an expectant look on his face as she reluctantly did likewise.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren summoned her scattered civility, \u201cI realise, Mr Atherton, that we are engaged but . . .\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am dreadfully sorry for making you wait, Miss Walter. I\u2019m afraid my phaeton has been suffering all day!\u201d This came from a newly arrived gentleman. \u201cLovely to see you, Matthew.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be,\u201d Matthew replied with a glance at Lauren. \u201cI\u2019ve been keeping your betrothed company, Nathan.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Her eyes leaped to the gentleman in the doorway.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just who was she marrying?<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKind of you,\u201d he said, joining them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren came to know after much needed introductions that Matthew was not her fianc\u00e9. Nathan was.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And oddly, a part of her felt the slightest tinge of disappointment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nathan was a kind man with pleasing looks and manners. Why he could not find a better wife had therefore been a mystery. Until they had conversed. He needed a wife who did not mind devoting her time to listening to his mundane lectures and ramblings. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew, on the other hand, was always equipped with a jaunty air and easy sense of humour. Shame he showed no plans for immediate (or eventual) settling. He would have made an interesting companion. For another.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou will make a good wife, Lauren. Do not be so worried.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She had not in fact been thinking of that at all. Her worry resided in the fact that she was beginning to bore of his company and seek his cousin\u2019s more. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A tremulous smile touched her lips, \u201cThank you, Nathan.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, you\u2019ll need assistance to improve your etiquette before the wedding,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I didn\u2019t-\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll find the best to educate you, do not fret, Lauren.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren suppressed her embarrassment as her fianc\u00e9 obliviously continued. Never so much had she wanted to shrink into a speck of dust just to be unseen. Her parents had loved her, cared for her, and made her a happy child in a poorhouse. She\u2019d always thought love was enough. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Before this life, she\u2019d thought a lot of things. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Still, she supposed she should be thankful to be offered a chance to improve. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It just stung a little.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just to quieten the ton,\u201d said Matthew, as she related the conversation to him the next day. \u201cThis wedding is driving us crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren mustered a smile, \u201cAnd here I thought only the bride and groom suffered.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing compared to mine, I assure you. The match-making mamas will tear me to shreds about my preferred state of solitude.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cClearly, I\u2019ve been self-involved till now.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a right to be, Lauren,\u201d he said with the dismissive wave of a hand. \u201cPerhaps I can assist you? Would you like any names wiped off the invitation list?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy own,\u201d she said despondently.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He slipped her arm out of the crook of his, and they stopped. A thoughtful silence encompassed them. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She looked up into his eyes, and for once they were completely solemn.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It was chilling. But because her heart quivered and stilled in her chest, she knew she loved him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he smirked. \u201cI\u2019d love to see you in a white dress, pouting like an angry child.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But she was engaged.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren mustered her senses and rolled her eyes, \u201cChrist, what do you think of me?!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His face hovered over hers, \u201cEverything.\u201d And his lips closed over hers, stroking and caressing with an intensity that stole her breath and shredded her resolve. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t think she could feel cherished and revered again. Like more than a crass-mannered mail order bride. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She wanted so desperately for it to remain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But it couldn\u2019t and she pulled back breathlessly, unable to force a voice through her parted lips as his eyes roved over her with an unfathomable expression, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She pressed her eyelids together for a moment, and exhaled a trembling breath. When she opened them, he had gone.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And she was left on the grassy ground of her fianc\u00e9\u2019s gardens.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Where she had kissed another man.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A week passed, and Lauren heard nothing from either gentlemen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe engagement has been called off!\u201d her grandfather spat out. \u201cYou bloody twit! Couldn\u2019t even hold onto a sure thing.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A string of philippic insults followed; and eventually, Lauren pulled on her cloak and bonnet and left the estate.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She sat in the park, under the shade of an oak tree and sighed; the one time she wanted a rainy English day, and it was bloody beautiful. She half shut her eyes as a few broken rays of light struck her face.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, good weather would not impart any joy in her life; she could practically see her grandfather searching for another \u2018patsy\u2019 to trick into marrying her. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJesus, Lauren! Could you look any more forlorn?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMatthew?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my dear,\u201d he said, swiftly lifting her confused frame against his solid chest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t. . .\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will<\/i> call you dear. Sometimes sweetheart or love. Which do you prefer? I prefer Mrs Atherton. If you marry me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut Nathan.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think marrying one\u2019s cousin is legal,\u201d he replied with a jaunty grin. \u201cAnd I\u2019d much rather spend my wedding night with you, Lauren.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did he call off the engagement?\u201d she asked shakily.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told him what had happened between us. I apologised, but his trust in you had been destroyed. He must also have sensed my affections for you, because he finally said that while you\u2019d been good company to him, he couldn\u2019t deny a love marriage for his own of convenience.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He nodded, \u201cNathan is no fool. So, will you marry me, Lauren?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d she said before he wrapped his arms around her and placed a not-so-innocent kiss on her lips.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout those lessons. . .\u201d He laughed, noticing the frozen people, one of whom had covered her child\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going by myself,\u201d she warned.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat can be arranged.\u201d His eyes glittered with mirth. \u201cUnless you fancy an anvil wedding at Gretna Green?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A pair of spectacles sat perched on the narrow bridge of his nose as he read. Lauren contemplated clearing her throat or tapping her foot on the floor to gain his attention, but decided against it; her grandfather never looked like he was in good spirits. \u201cI have found a way for you to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-transparent-header":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quarterly-magazine"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novelty-fiction.com\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}