Chapter Twenty-One - Nora - A New Understanding

Town seemed to be particularly busy this morning, as I walked by on my way to the dressmakers, hoping to get a head start on a dress for my father's wedding.

"Congradulations Miss Ainsworth." Mr. Butterfield, the butcher, tipped his hat in my direction, and I gave a half-smile, unsure as to why I should get such congradulations for my father's engagement. It wasn't as if I was the one getting married.

"And what a blushing bride to be." Mrs. Hales commented as she passed me. I visibly stopped in my tracks. I turned around and touched Mrs. Hales on the sleeve, hoping to set her straight.

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. It's not I that is to be-"

"Miss Ainsworth!" I looked up, as Hodges came rushing at me, an unpleasant frown etched deep onto his worried face. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Oh?" I was surprised. Hodges was only suppose to get back from his parish ordination today, and I had not heard word he had gotten in, else I would have gone straight to his house to tell him news of my father. Surely he couldn't be mad at me for that.

"We have to talk." He whispered harshly at me, his expression not letting up. He was clearly in a sour mood- but why?

I nodded my head, hoping not to provoke him anymore. He took my wrist, pulling me back towards the road that would lead to our houses, not saying one word as he marched me right out of the street. A few people looked our way, eyes growing big, but most paid no heed, as their thoughts were clearly more self-centered.

When we finally got to our tree, Hodges had worked himself up, his breath heavy and loud. "When were you going to tell me?" He sounded hurt, his eyes glaring at me.

"Tell you what? About my dad? Today actually, I just hadn't gotten word about your arrival, and-"
Hodges seemed confused, but he cut me off nonetheless. "Not about your dad. About you!"

"About me?" I frowned, unsure where he was going with this.

"Yes, you. And a certain Mr. Samuelson?" He cocked an eyebrow, his hands on his hips.

"I already told you Hodges, he isn't a future suitor."

"By George he isn't! I think he's moved past that now, hasn't he?" He sounded exasperated, and his arm flew up to his head, as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What do you mean Hodges?" I asked, my body sagging against the tree. I was starting to grasp exactly what was happening, only I was hoping I was extremely off, and my imagination was running rampant.

"He's your promised Nora! You're fiancé!"  Hodges threw up his arms, doing all in his power to try and stay calm.

"No. I'm sorry, but that's quite impossible." I stated, my voice going quiet. My stomach felt sick, and suddenly I was too dizzy to stand. I couldn't even look Hodges in the eyes. It all made sense now, the talk with my father, his worrying that I'd be angry, how Mr. Samuelson seemed to be all but avoiding our estate, and well, even what many had said on the street.

I wouldn't put it past my father to do something like this. He was an eccentric, in his own way. And like he said, the money was all the motivation he needed. I felt like crying and screaming all at once. It was totally unfair. And I didn't even get a say in the matter, no thanks to the sneak who pretended to be a gentleman.

"You lied to me about this Nora, and that's not like you. All I want to know is why. Why would you not just tell me? Did you really think it would be easier to go behind my back with something like this?" Hodges  had taken a few strides to the right as he talked, trying to walk the anger off. As soon as he turned around, and saw my face, he rushed to my side, trying to steady me, so I wouldn't faint. "Wow, you're face is as white as a sheet. Are you okay?"

"I had no idea about this Hodges. My father-" I shook my head, as Hodges lowered me to a sitting positon, having me put my head between my knees.

"I'm sorry Nora, I didn't know. I should have guessed, I mean, the way your father is. Isn't it just like him to negotiate your hand for marriage without even having you in the room!" Hodges lowered himself next to me, sitting beside me. "I just heard and" He paused, not wanting to go on. "I got scared Nora. Things have to be different now, between you and me. Everything's going to change, and none for the better."

"And worse, I'm getting married to a total stranger." I added glumly. Of course Hodges didn't get my full meaning, but it was true enough I didn't know him on a very personal level, but also, I didn't know who or what he truly was, and what exactly he was hiding from the rest of us.

"I can tell you who he's going to be, a dead man, if I have anything to say about it!" Hodges promised, throwing a fist into the air.

That got a small laugh from me. "Hodges, you're a parisher now. You can't go around dueling others; it's unethical."

His brow furrowed. "Well, all I can say is Mr. Elliot Samuelson will just have to watch himself, because he hasn't seen my nasty side yet! And I do have one Nora." He shot me a look, knowing that I was skeptical.

"Oh, I'm sure." I patted his knee, holding in a laugh.

It went quiet as we both thought deeply about the situation, wondering what we could do.

"How are you to deal with your father?" Hodges asked, getting serious again.

"I don't know." I sighed, not wanting to go home, but now that I was promised to someone, it would look bad on my part to stay too long lingering here with Hodges. "But I may as well get this over with, right?"

Hodges took my hands in his, giving me a somber smile. "I wish you luck Miss Ainsworth." He nodded, and dropped my hands, knowing this was a goodbye as well.

I stood up, and Hodges followed suit. "Hodges, I can promise you one thing." I stated, thinking hard.

"And what is that?" He asked, curious.

"That I'll do everything in my power to get out of this predicament." I stated, giving a wicked grin to follow.

*

My father's eyes darkened. "Nora, I can't take the marriage proposal back now. It would soil our family name, laden it with scandel and backhand dealings. Besides, the whole town knows and they expect a very extravagant wedding. Not only because you're the banker's daughter, but because of the wealth of Mr. Samuelson. We cannot make this a small deal. It's huge! Life changing!"

"You're telling me." I muttered under my breath. "Can we at least forgo the engagement party?" I asked, hoping for the best.

"No." My father stated flatly. "I've told the whole town, and we're expecting to host at least have of them in our home. Everything is going to go through."

Well, there wasn't going to be any budging from my father's side. He was as stubborn as I was, which meant neither of us would let up.

My father's voice softened, and he stepped toward me, touching my shoulder gently. "Can you at least try to understand Nora? All of this is for your own good."

*

I walked out to our porch, grateful for the fresh air. Fighting with my father was getting me nowhere, and I needed a break to think the whole situation over anyways.

Sure, I could understand the position my father was coming from, and sure, I understood what I would have to do for the sake of my family name.

But understanding was a whole different thing than accepting. And I wasn't even close to coming to accepting any of this. I understood plenty, but that didn't mean I had to be nice about it.

One thing was for certain- Mr. Samuelson had his work cut out for him, if I had anything to say in the matter.