1
𝟏𝟖𝟔𝟐 -
Madeline stood at the huge French windows in her bedroom and watched as the townspeople began to pour into her family’s estate, she let out a soft sigh, she hated weekends like this more than anything she could think of, she was always told to stand there and look pretty and only speak when spoken to.
The exquisite handmade emerald velvet dress with gold trim hung on the back of the door, though it was beautiful, in fact it was more than beautiful, she knew how lucky she was to have such expensive clothes and possessions when there were people starving in the world, but she hated what her life had become since her mother died, her father had become a tyrannical brute, his temper had grown worse and he was a complete displeasure to be around, Her older sister Celeste was lucky enough to marry into a loving family who adored her and a husband who spoiled her with affection, Madeline felt a pang of jealousy at her sister’s new life, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before her father would start looking for a suitor for her, being 22 and still unmarried was considered strange, especially in this day and age.
“Miss Thomas, your father is waiting for you downstairs,” one of the servants said from the other side of the huge oak door.
“Could you tell him I won’t be a moment,” she said in an apathetic tone, Madeline sighed before finally starting to get ready, she slipped on her dress, pulled her corset tight and pinned her hair up in a simple yet elegant updo and she was ready, as ready as she would ever be, She made her way to her father’s office where he was waiting impatiently, tapping his foot and tapping his fingers on the desk, “Finally,” he grumbled, “we’ve got almost the whole town waiting for us and you’re off doing God knows what,” his face red and puffy from years of alcohol abuse and poor eating habits.
“I’m sorry...” she started to apologise but was cut short, “there is no time for apologies Madeline, now hurry, we have guests to greet and then we can finally get these festivities underway” he stood up from the desk that was almost as tall as he was.
“Yes Father,” she forced a smile, the nervous butterflies fluttering in her stomach as they made their way to the makeshift stage where the entire town and its cousin stood waiting for the Mayor’s big speech, and this was Madeline’s definition of a nightmare, the thought of all those eyes staring up at her made her physically sick.
“Welcome everyone to the 4th Annual Love of Light Festival,” her father boomed loudly as he spoke to his people, but as he spoke Madeline’s mind wandered, as usual she couldn’t wait to get this weekend out of the way, after her father’s speech it was her turn to mingle with the revelers, she had a long list of do’s and don’ts, She was not to talk about her family’s private life, which was strictly forbidden, she was definitely not to mention the string of streetwalkers she had seen leaving the estate and the odd hours of the morning, she was to smile and be polite even in the most uncomfortable of circumstances, basically she was there to make sure her father looked like the perfect family man when he was anything but. She stood in the corner of the room feeling lost and alone, she usually had her sister Celeste there to keep her company but this year she was flying solo and it being a festival about love made her feel ten times more lonely, her eyes scanned the room looking for a friendly face or someone she knew, anyone...
“Good afternoon Miss Madeline”Anyone but himShe turned and wrinkled her nose.“Oh, hello William” she replied politely, even though he was the last person she wanted to speak to.
“Still no ring, I see,” he joked as he looked down at Madeline’s ringless hand.Madeline’s face flushed red, “I’m not going marry the first man I see, William, I’m not desperate,” she replied more sharply than she had intended, but the truth was she couldn’t physically stand the man, his greasy black slicked back hair, the little black snail-like fuzz on his upper lip, his arrogance, everything about him made her cringe, William was everything she despised in a person.
“Well, I’d hurry up and tell your father that, because my father is in that office talking to yours right now,” William teased with a smirk on his lips, “Mrs Madeline Carrington has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
Madeline shuddered at the thought, “William, I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man alive and we were the only ones who could help bring the population back, I’d rather see people die out who have to breed with you in any way,” Madeline scoffed, looking down her nose at him.
William took a step towards her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to him, “When your father realises that I’m the best you’re going to get, you won’t have a choice, I mean you’re going down the list, at this rate you’ll be shipped off to a nunnery somewhere in the middle of France,” he seethed through clenched teeth, His face turned red with rage, Madeline scoffed and jerked her wrist away sharply, feeling a surge of rage run through her veins and clenching her fist, she was about to close her eyes and swing and punch him in his horrible, smug little Weasley face when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Is everything all right here?” a man interrupted.
“Mind your own business, we’re fine,” William spat, making his face even more weasel-like than usual, and grabbed Madeline’s wrist again, trying to pull her away from the man.
“I didn’t ask you, I asked the young lady here,” he turned to Madeline, who for once was speechless at the handsome man standing in front of her.
“I...” Madeline began to speak.
“She’s my fiancée, and I don’t think her welfare is any of your concern, Mr...”
“Cordova, Nicolai Cordova,” he smiled at Madeline who was still frowning at William for cutting her off mid-sentence and even more so for introducing himself as her fiance.
“I’m not your fiancé at all William, never in a million years would I be, I’d rather hang from the gallows than have you ever introduce me like that again” she spat before turning back to Nicolai who was standing there looking amused at the way William was squirming in place, “and as I was saying before we were rudely interrupted, I’m fine, thank you for asking, don’t worry about him, he’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before”,
“Well, I like a woman who can take care of herself,” he licked his perfectly shaped, soft pink lips, making Madeline’s stomach turn.
“I-uh-i” she couldn’t get the words out, stammering for a moment, feeling herself blush with embarrassment before finally finding some composure, “I’m Madeline Thomas, it’s a pleasure to meet you Nicolai”.
William stood there for a moment, confused at what had just happened in front of him, he’d tried to take his shot and yet some guy had just gotten more attention from her than he’d ever gotten.
“You’ll pay for this, both of you, you don’t know who my father is,” he spat, sounding like a spoilt child, before turning on his heel and storming off.
“The Mayor’s daughter?” Nicolai raised an eyebrow and offered her hand, “Is it that obvious?” Madeline blushed again, hoping he didn’t mean she resembled her father in any way.
“Just the way you carry yourself with poise and dignity, I’ve heard many things about you,” he smiled.
“All good things, I hope.”
“Of course I’d be concerned if a father spoke ill of his own child.“”You spoke to my father?” she replied a little embarrassed, her father was a terrible person and she couldn’t imagine him having a civil conversation with anyone.
“I just left his office, I was about to leave when I saw you ready to punch the man in the face”.
“I’m sure I would have if you hadn’t stepped in when you did,” she laughed.
“Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Thomas,” he lifted her hand and kissed her pale skin gently, his lips lingering for a moment, “I hope we have the good fortune to meet again in the near future.”
He started to walk away, Madeline stood there in absolute awe as she suddenly felt an urge in her stomach, it was time she started to take control of her future and not have it decided and dictated by her father.
“Excuse me, um Mr Cordova?” she called out before she even had a chance to think of what to say, he stopped before turning around, his icy blue eyes meeting hers again through the crowd, “Yes?” he smiled.
Madeline took a deep breath...
It’s now or never Madeline!
“Would you like to join me at the Fate tonight?” that was it, she said it! “I mean if you’re not busy or have other plans?” her voice was as shaky as her hands, the most dazzling smile Madeline had ever seen crept across his face.
“It would be an honour, Miss Thomas,” he bowed his head, “I will see you tonight, my lady.
𝚂𝚘 𝙸‘𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝙸‘𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚞𝚙 - 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸‘𝚖 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸’𝚖 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚝
𝙻𝙱𝚡
