Take Me Forever Read Free

room
and talked to every man in the place.
    “How did it go?”   Melany asked when Michael returned to her side later in the evening.
    “Not well I’m afraid,” he answered.
    “Whatever shall we do?”   Melany asked.
    “Let’s hope the next ball will bring in some eligible men
that were not here tonight.   I did hear
that there were three newcomers to the city that were not able to be here
tonight.”
    They watched as their daughter danced and danced as if she
did not have a care in the world.   She
must have danced with every man there and not one of them led on that they were
interested in anything other than dancing.   She found one or two of them to be handsome but she did not see them as
potential husband material.
    Later, in the powder room Mercy overheard something
unsettling.
    “Did you see how she was flaunting herself at all the men,” Caroline
said.
    “I know.   How pitiful
someone her age has not married yet,” replied Rebecca.
    “I sure hope I don’t end up like her,” said Charlotte as the
three young girls left the room.
    Mercy began to cry.   She didn’t think she deserved to be pitied.   She didn’t think she was throwing herself at
the men she was dancing with.   She was
ready for this night to be over.   Quickly, she found her mother and told her she had developed a dreadful
headache and wanted to go home.
    Once safely home, Mercy told her mother what she had
overheard.
    “Don’t let it upset you honey,” Melany stated as she
comforted her daughter.   “Your father
will find you a match.   Just wait and
see.”
    Sobbing, Mercy lay down and tried to sleep.   She had not set out to find a husband but
after the way she was being talked about, she was determined to not let her
family reputation become tarnished by her.   It seemed it did not matter what her circumstances were that prevented
her from entering the husband hunt when she should have.   The crowd had labeled her as a spinster.   She should have realized by the conversations
she had with some of the women at the ball that they pitied her.
    During the next week, Michael McMillan was doing his best to
correspond and visit all potential suitors for his daughter.   He was about to run out of luck when he rang
the last doorbell.
    “Hello Mr. McMillan,” Cole Massey greeted him with a handshake.
    “Good day Mr. Massey,” Michael replied as they walked toward
the library.
    “What can I do for you today?” asked Cole as he offered a
shot of whiskey to Michael.
    “Well,” Michael said as he cleared his throat.   “As you may have heard I have a daughter that
debuted this season.   She just turned
18.”
    “18,” said Cole astounded.
    “That is correct but you have to understand her
circumstances,” Michael said as he told Cole all about Mercy.
    “She does sound fascinating, but 18.   I don’t know if I would want a wife that old
or not.   I want plenty of heirs for my
estate.”
    “Just come for a visit before you make your mind up.   I think you will be pleasantly surprised by
my daughter.”
    “Alright.   How about 6
o’clock tomorrow evening?   I can come by
for dinner and we will discuss things further if she is to my liking,” stated
Cole as he showed Mr. McMillan to the door.

Chapter 4
    The following day Melany McMillan was in a tizzy trying to
get the house ready for their guest.   She
ordered the servants to polish the best china and the cook to prepare a feast
fit for a king.   Mercy’s parents told her
that this could be her only chance to get a husband and she had better show off
her abilities to catch him.   Her mother
laid out an ivory colored dress and instructed the servant girl how to do
Mercy’s hair for the evening.
    “Mother, I don’t think we should be going to so much trouble
for this man.   If he likes me, he likes
me and if he doesn’t who cares?”   Mercy
argued while she was being helped into her evening dress.
    “Mercy, you don’t want to end up with no