Tag: meddling mother

Abigail

Dear Mr Abernathy,

It has come to my attention that an agreement has been made regarding marriage between you and myself. After overcoming the great shock of not having a say or even an inkling of knowledge regarding this endeavor and apparent subsequent proposition, I have taken it upon myself to write to you now.

Having looked over the contract I do not see a way of breaking the terms without great financial loss to us both. Since I do not know you beyond a vague meet and greet several months ago, I am going to assume that it was my mother’s stipulation that there would be so much financial loss incurred with backing out.

Now, the question is how amenable are you to making this arrangement agreeable to both parties. I assume you have a life outside of work that will be affected by my mother’s meddling as will mine. Please respond at your earliest convenience to set a date where we can meet to discuss details.

Ms Charles

Abi gave a quick nod after she reread the email and sent it. It was several days before she received a reply. 

Ms Abigail Charles,

I apologize for taking so long to respond. Since receiving your letter I have had to first track down what agreement you were referring to because I was completely unaware of its existence before you wrote to me. Apparently you are not the only one who has a meddling mother.

Forgive me for being brief, I can cover the loss stated in the contract for termination if that is what you wish. I would not force you into any arrangement or situation to which you are not in full agreement. 

With chagrin I must also confess that I believe my mother went to such great lengths to secure this contract in the first place because of something I said. I may have mentioned you in an argument I was having with my mother about marriage prospects, as an example of someone who would be a wonderful partner and wife. Apparently she took that to mean that she could get away with arranging our marriage.

As smart, beautiful, and strong as I remember you being, I am sure you wish to quickly put this past you. I will not be informing my mother and I hope you will do the same to avoid the drama both our mothers intend to provide if we do not follow through with this marriage.

If I am correct in my assumption, my mother was intending to hide this contractual agreement from me to marry until the day of the wedding, and spring it on me .

If you are able to meet next Wednesday at the fountain park in front of your building at 2, I will be happy to discuss what can be done regarding the stated agreement until monetary recompense can be provided.

Grayson Abernathy

Abi stared at the screen. She was inclined to write him back and schedule a different time, just to prove she could. This whole ordeal was embarrassing enough. But to find out that it was because he had said that she was an ideal wife? To his mother, in an argument. Was the admission supposed to come across as some sort of compliment?

Scrunching her eyes closed she tried to better recall meeting Mr Grayson Abernathy. He had been one of so many new faces that night at her mother’s gala. All she could remember was his solid warm handshake and his laugh. Not a single thing about what he looked like. 

“Ms Charles.” Her assistant scurried into the room and quickly shut the door behind her. “Justin’s here.”

Abi groaned. Now was not the time to be dealing with her overly persistent ex. They had broken up several years ago but in the past month he had been stopping in three to four times a week to bug her.

“Joanna, simply tell him that I am too busy to see him.”

With a nod Joanna left, firmly shutting the door again. Abi returned to her letter staring. 

When her mother had laid down the contract on her desk Abi had been stunned. She had read through it several times to find a way around it. However, her mother had planned on the resistance and made the thing irritatingly concrete.

And now to find out that she hadn’t even made it with Mr Abernathy himself. She was going to be the unwanted trophy wife she had studiously fought to avoid her whole life. Rage filled her at her mother’s betrayal.

At that moment, Justin popped his smarmy head in with a smirk.

“Hey baby. I assured Joanna that I wanted only a quick minute to say hello to my favorite girl.” His simpering cockiness grated on her shattered nerves.

“Get out.” She didn’t yell. She wanted to. But she didn’t.

It wasn’t surprising that he ignored her. “So Abs I was thinking we could go to dinner tonight. I brought you that slinky red dress you know I like. I figure you can change real quick and we can get going.” He dropped a black dress bag on her desk.

Abi shot a glare in his direction and picked up her phone. “Joanna, dial security and have Justin removed immediately.”

She turned back to her computer and pretended that Justin wasn’t there. His folded arm power stance did nothing to convince her.

“Abi. Baby. There’s no need for security.” He pushed her chair out from her desk and sat in front of her, leaning against her desk. “If you would just forget our little breakup scene we can get back to being the awesome, gorgeous couple that we are. Just get that pretty little dress on and I’ll forgive you for the scowl you gave me when I came in.”

“Little break up scene?” She pulled her chair even further away from him. “You brought the press to make a formal announcement that I was a horrible mistake and an even worse girlfriend. Then you proceeded to give exclusives to anyone who would listen about how unethical and horrible you thought I was.”

He gave a little pout. “Just blowing off steam, you know. I had too much pent up.”

She growled and left her office until security came.

As he was being removed Abi plunked back down at her desk and pulled up the internet, typing in Grayson Abernathy. Several pictures popped up and she found herself wondering for a second if she wouldn’t mind getting to know her future ex fiance a little better. He wasn’t difficult to look at by any means.

“Joanna.”

In popped Joanna’s bouncy blonde curls. “Yes, Ms Charles. I am so sorry I didn’t manage to stop Justin this time. He was in your office before I could get up from my desk.”

Abi waved her excuses away. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t call you in for that. Please clear next wednesday at 2 for a 90 minute block. I have a meeting with a Mr Abernathy.”

Instantly Joanna was all business, taking down the information and nodding. Abi didn’t see her leave as she clicked on Grayson’s picture to see what else she could learn about the man her mother had arranged to become her fiance.

Brietta

Cringing as her mother’s shrill laughter echoed through the small garden, she couldn’t go any further away. That laugh was as inescapable as the afternoon tea. Brietta had been strictly forewarned against venturing any further than the small garden. So there she was, wandering the fringes of the garden, just in case any of her mother’s friend’s sons, nephews, or any eligible male relation stopped by.

“Brietta darling!” Her mother called over, shattering the illusion of tranquility. When Brietta turned to look in her mother’s direction she discovered a rather attractive young man standing slightly off to the side of the group. With a stutter, her heart skipped a beat leaving her a little breathless. He was tall but not gangly, more broad than spindly. With gold-streaked, dark brown hair and his full masculine attention fixed on her, Brietta had to focus as she inclined her head in his direction.

“Yes mother?” She responded, not moving closer; no matter how tempting it now was. The little freedom she had would not be given up so easily. She could see her mother’s eyes roll in exasperation even from this distance.

“Dear girl, come meet Lady Bristol’s son. He’s only stopped in for a moment to check in on his dear mother.” Brietta’s mother kept waving her forward even after she began making her way through the manicured shrubbery. As she drew closer his eyes followed her, tempting her to stare into their depths. Brietta gave a small curtsey, swaying as she realized she’d been holding her breath. 

In the silence that followed her mother’s pleased smile, Brietta angled herself towards the handsome newcomer. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Bristol’s son.” She quipped.

“Brietta!” Her mother scolded. Brietta braced herself for an embarrassing public reprimand.

“Forgive me.” A deep baritone voice interrupted smoothly before her mother had a chance to begin. “I should have introduced myself. I would be honored if you would allow me to do so now. Lord Trenton.” He bowed.

Brietta bit her tongue in an attempt to maintain decorum and not stick her tongue out at him. She knew she had already surpassed her mother’s limited patience for the day. Thankfully, he lifted his arm to her in open invitation. “Would you allow me to escort you around your lovely garden so that I may further apologize in order to appease your delicate sensibilities?” She glanced at her mother, who was doing her best to nod her head off…subtly.

After only a few steps down the path he leaned over to whisper in her ear, amusement coloring his tone. “Now that we are practically old friends may I call you Brietta, as your mother so sweetly named you or must I remain formal? You don’t seem as traditionally intent as the ladies over at the table.” He confessed, teasing her with the hint of a roguish and downright mischievous smile.

Brietta’s polite smile brightened with delight. In as serious a tone as she could muster she declared. “Since you have brought up the subject, I confess that I must insist you address me formally.” She paused, checking the distance from her mother before deeming it safe to continue, “In fact, allow me to appease your delicate sensibilities. Most people address me as Lord Aubrietta. I am gratified to make you acquaintance, Lady Bristol’s son.” Her attempted haughtiness failed as she struggled to conceal her grin.

Immediately he bowed low. “Forgive me, Lord Aubrietta I had no idea I was in such lofty company. May I please grovel at your feet?” He glanced up at her from his bowed position, his grin matching hers.

“Oh, do get up before my mother faints or mistakenly believes you are proposing to me.” Brietta sighed.

Lord Trenton stood slowly and once again offered his arm for her to take. They strolled further into the garden in contented silence before he smiled down her way again. “So Brietta, how is it I find you alone in this garden while a bunch of matrons of high society gossip over tea nearby?”

She took a moment to formulate her answer. “How trustworthy are you?” She asked boldly, leaning forward in commiseration. “If I tell you the truth, will my mother be hearing of it before the week is out or will you hold my secret close?”

“No one will hear it from me.” He promised solemnly. They proceeded to walk to the furthest corner of the garden, away from the matrons.

Once far enough away she said, “I was required to stay for just a circumstance as this. My mother is convinced that she will snag me a husband through her entertainments with their mothers. You are not the first son or nephew to stop by for their aunt or mother or even grandmother, and you may have noticed my obvious lack of competition here. However, if it were up to me I would be an hour into those woods over there and decidedly absent until suppertime.”

“Ahh, to be free from marriage-minded mothers. Take me with you on your adventure into the woods.” He beseeched, pleading. “My mother is insisting I attend an afternoon concert with Lady Sophia Grace. A stroll in the woods with no such expectations sounds much more appealing.”

“I hear Lady Sophia Grace is well sought after. You should feel honored by the opportunity.” She muttered, well aware of where she stood in the social hierarchy compared to the elegant Lady Sophia Grace. There was a reason why she wasn’t attending parties where she would be compared to the other ladies her age. Her mother never hesitated to make her aware of her shortcomings in looks, form, and accomplishment. “Besides, I am not able to take you with me, whether I want to or not, because I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you want to?” Lord Trenton smiled. She didn’t have to answer, he could see in her answering smile that she was long to go anywhere and would happily take him along.

His shoulders slumped slightly as he took both her hands in his. After several seconds of simply holding them he looked up, straight into her eyes. Brietta felt positively speared by the determination and tenderness she saw within the depths of his gaze. With a heart-stopping grin he said, “I have decided. I am going to make it my mission to spirit you away from the confines of this garden so that we may go adventuring to your heart’s content. I will just have to keep coming back until we are both free of this garden and of the Lady Sophia Grace. I will see you tomorrow.” He bowed abruptly and left her standing alone in the back of the garden.

She watched as he gave his mother a sweet peck on the cheek and strode off to his waiting horse.

To read part 2 of Brietta’s story, click here.