Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast."
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
The weeks went like this passing by with visits here and there by the Wolf family. Agustin neither showed himself nor sent me a letter like the arrogant person that I had seen him for. I wonder if he thought this was attractive to others. Instead I got letters sent from the crown prince's alias giving me updates about Agustin. Saying that if Agustin sent the letters himself then the emperor would get involved. Which was a load of crap. But I didn't care. Agustin didn't want me for love. Why was he informing me of all of this through the crown prince of all people?
Why was the crown prince involving himself in this? Who knows of the rumors this would cause. A random man who is married is sending letters to Canary Whitewood. Canary Whitewood is said to be in talks of marrying Stellan Wolf. I could hear the mockery and talks behind my back. My mother and father disowning me and marrying me off to some old wrinkled baron. I finally wrote him back and told him to stop sending me letters. If Agustin was so interested in my attention and hand then he should send the letters himself or better yet come in person. So I won't be made a whore getting letters from the crown prince's alias name.
How dare he! Treat me like I'm some comfort woman waiting for her noble customer who promised to marry her. Though I wasn't that cherished I would not be treated like some whore on the street. My pride was all I seemed to have left. Especially in this case where two people were trying to see what they could get me for. What could they bargain me for? What prize could they win? The golden bird who had a clipped wing and fell into the mud.
"It seems the youngsters have no desire to get married to each other". Lord Wold said. We all sat in the receiving room. My parents, Stellans parents, My brother and his wife, only Amara wasn't here. Lord Stellan chuckled to ease the tension in the room.
My parents' faces had a dark expression on it. Especially my fathers face. I looked at Stellan who only held his head down. His mothers hands were clasped together. She was nervous. Lord Wolf not so much. There was silence in the room, no sound could be heard and my father kept tapping his finger on his chair. The silence was broken by the head butler coming and whispering something in my fathers ear and handing him a letter.
My father put a smile on his face. "Well we cant force them can we". He said, chuckling this evil little chuckle. Something was amiss. I could feel it in the air. Why after trying so hard to get me married to his son and their son married to me were they now giving up? And why was father giving up so easily? What was that note?
I didn't know why. No one would say anything. It ended at that. We all walked the Wolf family out as a whole. Everyone except Amara. I walked at the back as always only Stellan was in front of me. I stared at his back wondering if the somewhat friendship that we had made was going to end at this. He had come over for almost two weeks having conversations with me. Sometimes his family would stay for dinner. So the one person that I could kind of call a friend now ended at that. I couldn't talk to him after this. Women and men were not supposed to have a close relationship unless they were married or friends that were married.
"Turn around". I whispered to myself. Hoping I wasn't the only one thinking that this was a friendship. "Say one thing before you go". I whispered. And he turned around handing me a small folded up note before leaving. No words, just a note.
"Good day". Stellan said as he left. I held my hands together hiding the note so no one would see. My mother looked at me weirdly and groaned it off walking past me. They all walked past me. Without saying a word. Soon as they were gone I ducked off into a hallway opening the note to read it.
Dear Canary, Strange things have been happening. My father received a letter a couple of letters actually. Some threatening, some offering a business deal for me to not marry you. My father took the business deal. As it was something that he wanted to expand on anyways. I investigated these letters and you would never guess or maybe you would guess that they were from Agustin Abarca. My mother is frightened, My father doesn't care because at least he gets something out of this anyway even if it isn't with me marrying you. When you see me I will not be able to talk to you. My mother has forbidden me to talk to you. She is scared that duke Abarca will do something. So i'm writing you this note that whatever happens if you need me I am here. My address is below.
The note ended at that. I held my mouth in shock at all of this. What was going on? How did all of this come to pass? Agustin who seemed to be showing no interest in marrying me was now threatening and bribing people. How could anyone say he was interested when he was sending letters through the crown princes alias. And they weren't even his words that were being written. It was the crown prince's words.
What had been going on under my eyes. I stared at my parents differently, more differently than I had already been looking at them. My father was happier than usual. My mother seemed jittery. My brother and sister in law were all smiles. I watched their changed behavior. Those around me even the servants' behavior had changed. "Shes marrying Abarca". They whispered, staring at me as I went down the hallway and looking away as I looked at them.
I started to understand but I couldn't quite grasp what was going on. At the social scenes Agustin stood close. But didn't speak to me. Everywhere I would go I would look and he would be standing close behind having a conversation. Stellan would sometimes be in the circle or conversation that I was in but he wouldn't say a thing to me. Not even spare me a glance. Everytime I would stare at him hoping he would stare back at me he didn't. My heart did this jumpy sinking type of thing. I didn't understand why it was doing this and why It was so important that Stellan had to stare back at me.
Here Agustin was standing close to me watching my every move like some type of eagle stalking their prey. I couldn't get away from him. I didn't go to the last events of the summer festivals, especially noticing that some plot was happening right under my nose. I shouldn't have accepting that flower crown, sat and talked to him at the horse race, let him come and talk to me at the palace gardens. Piece by piece Agustin was planning this whole trap for me and when it became clear that I was steering off of this road he had paved he began to speed up the process of getting me back on the path.
The summer festivals were over and I could leave this dreadful house and go back to my grandparents house. I needed to come up with a plan. I couldn't marry Agustin. I wouldn't marry Agustin. Things would not go his way or my parents' way. I wanted space. Even from Amara I wanted space. I wasn't granted space. As soon as I arrived at my grandparents' estate, Agustin,his uncle, and my parents who had followed me were standing at the door. Waiting for me.
I stepped out the carriage,confused at this sudden appearance. Agustin stood there with this smug smile. As if he had it all figured it out when he didn't. "Canary my dearest". My mother said in her annoying fake voice that she put on in front of guests. She held me by my shoulders leading me to the door so everyone would be let in. "We waited for you to arrive to let the guest in Lady Whitewood". The butler said, opening the door for us. "What's this all about"? "Why your marriage of course dear"?
"With whom"? I frowned. "Me". Agustin stepped. "Since I am a duke we don't need to go through all these formalities". "By formalities you mean consent". I said, crossing my arms. Agustin put his head to the side. Surprised seemingly at my pushing back at his advances. "Let us….all have a talk why don't we". "All five of us I mean by that". The butler led us to the sitting room. Agustin was in front of everyone, seeming as though he had already taken control of my grandparents estate. I walked behind him feeling myself drowning in his shadow and I perceived that if they marriage would happen..that this would be my fate.
Drowning in his shadow. That golden singing bird that is trapped in a cage. I was now understanding Agustin. How his personality seemed to take a complete spin as if he was someone else. He wasn't impressed at my boldness in denying him. He was impressed that a woman like me was bold enough to deny him the duke. That his charms weren't working. There's a difference between being impressed by someone being bold and someone being impressed that you are bold enough to do that to them.
Agustin didn't like this and now instead of love bombing and woeing me he would do this the calculated way. He would force his way in. Like a bird hunter capturing a bird and forcing that independent bird into a cage. That's what Agustin was. A bird hunter. He sat in the chair that sat at the head of the table and I sat to the side of him. Like I was already his wife. The conversation was purely between him and my parents. Not even his uncle said a word.
"Great". Agustin said, slapping his hands together. "We shall leave". My parents said, "As shall I". Agustin said. "Canary you would lead us"? Agustin's words made me jump. "S-Sure". I said standing up. Agustin's smile made a chill go down my back. I led them down the hallway. Agustin stood beside me letting my parents pass and his uncle pass after. "I shall have a word with Canary". He said to my parents and his uncle. They nodded obeying Agustin like they were some soldiers of his. "Canary". He said smiling. "I will not be marrying you". I hissed. "Oh but you will". He said, grabbing my arms.
His grip was tight just as my fathers grip was at the ball. "I'm sorry if you wanted to marry that Wolf boy". "I truly am but you see plans have changed. I'm setting the tone for who will be in charge and you are in that plan my little golden bird". "What are you talking about-". I tried to tug away from Agustin who only tightened his grip on my arms.
"Do you really think a girl like you has the right to deny me"? "Deny me of my plan"? "A loveless marriage be honest dear you would have never been granted the marriage of love". "Maybe a form of affection will come later seeing as you will bear my children". "LET GO OF ME"! I screamed. He finally let my arms go. But the aching feeling still stayed.
"Canary". "What I do for myself I do for you also". "You know my family will use me to betray you". Agustin laughed. A huge laugh his did rubbing the back of his head. "This I plan on". "You knew"? "I know everything and I put it in my plan of things to come". "The garden"? I frowned. "Planned". He smirked. "The horse race, battle of hands,everything was a plan going according to what I want". "What do you gain by doing this"? I asked. He held my chin and grinned. "In due time my dear you will know".
"Until next time we see each have a good night soon to be Duchess Abarca".