- Eleanor Roosevelt

Rhea and Hadrian walked back to the mansion estate's entrance to greet her parents in the parlor.

“I did not properly introduce myself.” Rhea looked at the man beside her and felt her face heat up. He was handsome. Very handsome.

His rugged features mixed with an attractive structure created an appealing austere character that Rhea found herself gravitating to. When she conjured an image of Lord Vale she didn’t see him as such. She dreaded his reaction to her and was shocked to find him as he appeared to be presently. Now, as he attended her while they walked back, she could see that there was something hidden on his features.

Something very alluring.

“I did not either, Your Grace.” He grimaced.

“Please, address me as Hadrian.” He acquitted. Rhea nodded generously. “You must be very angry, Lady Hemmingway.” Rhea turned to give him a curious look.

“Why would that be?”

“You are to marry out of duty.” He answered; Rhea secretly glanced at him and saw his jaw was hardened.

He was disappointed. Rhea’s composure nearly fell. He was being kind out of duty, was her first thought. How could she fool herself into thinking a stranger would want to marry her? Indeed, had she not felt the same way about him moments before? Granted, one must not rely on appearances, as that could be quite false to the person's nature, but Rhea felt his kindness towards her. Truly, was that enough?

What about herself - A girl who was barely offered for marriage? A girl who could not even being a dowry to their marriage arrangement? He must’ve been ashamed to even look at her! Rhea desperately fought the humiliation that welled up inside her.

Rhea held her emotions under control. Of course, she was being silly. She had just met the man. How could she allow him to affect her so?

“I see, Your Grace.” Rhea’s softened tone took a firm one. “You must think me foolish, do you not? Me, a plain, young maiden, and you . . . Well you’re a duke. What matters should you have for me? I am unworthy.”

Rhea fleetingly understood she was being overly sensational, but she couldn't help herself.

“My lady, I had no intention of-”

“That is perfectly fine, Your Grace. I won’t become a stumbling block to your prideful path. I’ve done enough damage.”

“For goodness sake!” the duke growled, having had enough of her unfounded arguments. “Will you allow me to speak?”

“Why? So that I may be humiliated?” Rhea cried. Lord Vale turned to her and gave her an exasperated glare.

“You assume the worst, my lady. I warn you of that fault.” He said gravely.

“My faults?” she asked incredulously. Rhea couldn’t believe the circumstances at hand. One minute he'd been kind and gentle, and the next he was glaring at her with striking blue eyes. She refused to face the fact that she'd most likely to start their tiff.

She had just met the man, and yet he was already driving her to madness! “My Lord Vale, I would not think of my faults when you’ve had enough of your own.”

Lord Vale narrowed his gaze on her. She had taken this too far, Rhea realized belatedly. Out of anger had she let her feelings rule over her common sense . . .

“My lord I-”

“It is fine, my lady. Obviously you think so low of me and, yet, we have to be introduced formally. I’m sorry to even have bothered. No longer will you have to worry about me and my God forsaken faults!”

With those words, the Duke stormed off. Rhea looked off at where he went and felt her heart stop. She had made him angry because of her thoughtless and stupid words. She was dim-witted to have let him, and ultimately, she grudgingly admitted, her own insecurities control her emotions like that.

She followed the path back up to the mansion in Lord Vale’s wake. Would he still uphold his bargain between her parents? Of course not, he had been humiliated by her.

Never would he want to have a wife as such. Rhea sighed; disheartened.

She was going to regret her actions.

Hadrian angrily strode towards the parlor, determined to thrust his bargain with the Hemmingway’s back into their face. He couldn’t believe the chit!

She dared bring his matters into line? Who the hell did she believe she was? Was she fooling him with her innocent act? Did she pretend she was gentle and soothing in nature, when really she was bred to be a fishwife?

Hadrian found his butler waiting by the door. “The Hemmingway’s?”

His butler showed him the room and Hadrian nodded for him to leave. He opened the door and was greeted by the elderly Hemmingway’s.

Their smile disappeared when they didn’t find their daughter amongst them. For a moment, they had believed that Rhea had fled, refusing the marriage arrangement after all. Truly, Lucinda would not have blamed her daughter for doing so.

“Is she gone, Your Grace?” Lucinda Hemmingway inquired cautiously. Hadrian slowly shook his head.

“No. She is arriving soon. I want to discuss our agreement.” The Duke implied.

“Should we not wait for-”

“I do not wish to repeat myself, Lady Hemmingway.” Hadrian warned. Lucinda stood silent. She did not want to face the consequences should she push the stern, you don't duke too far. Their life was on the line.

He turned towards Abraham and looked at the man with disgust. “Repeat the agreement.”

“I would give you my daughter . . .” The Baron hesitated, not completely sure where the duke's demanding nature was coming from. Though, his true reluctance came through the fact that he did not want to voice his outstanding debts and how Vale would end up paying them off. He also did not want to mention the rest of the contract between himself and the Vale's.

“Go on.”

“I would give you my daughter, in return for a political stand and a yearly payment of six thousand pounds.”

A gasp was heard by the entrance of the parlor. They all turned to greet the bargaining tool. Rhea’s face revealed a mixture of emotions as she heard the reason of the bargaining.

“You . . .” Rhea trailed.

For a moment, Hadrian seemed remorseful. There was so much despair in Rhea’s eyes. Obviously, the Hemmingway’s did not disclose the true reason of their bargaining.

“You lied, papa?” Rhea asked. Abraham grimaced.

“I did not, I only revealed what I thought was important for you to know," her father argued.

“You did not think that the rest was just as important for me to know?” She whispered. Her words seemed to make her father flustered. “I thought we were ruined?”

“We are!” Lucinda cried. Rhea turned to her mother.

“And you knew?” Rhea asked; her voice was shaking lightly. Hadrian stayed quiet. “I was a tool for your means. Something you could easily wield to your whim. Alright.”

They all looked at her shocked. Hadrian narrowed his eyes on the young Lady Hemmingway’s face as she straightened to face her parents.

“I am not a liar, I keep my promises. I will marry him. If that is what you wish . . .” she did not look at anyone else as she turned to flee the room.

Lady Hemmingway let out a cry as she realized the jeopardy of the situation. She went to follow her daughter out the door.

Hadrian watched as Lucinda left and then turned to face Abraham. Abraham had a harsh glare trained on Hadrian.

“Damn you.” He growled menacingly.

“I would revise your words.” Hadrian advised.

“You knew she would hear the rest of the deal, did you not Vale?” Abraham sneered.

“I merely wished that Lady Rhea Hemmingway be aware of the consequences of this marriage; the entire reason she was being sold to a stranger.”

“I did not sell her.” Abraham took a threatening step towards Hadrian.

Hadrian gave Abraham a hard stare. “I would watch the means of how you act, Lord Hemmingway. You are still under my power, I hold meaning for you, until our agreement is filled, and you are powerless. Do not forget that, it would be ill advised.” Hadrian informed, he turned away and walked out of the room, leaving a steaming Abraham in his wake.

Indeed, Hadrian though sardonically, the meeting went quite well.

~~~~~~~~~