Take Me Forever Read Free Page B

forced
into marrying him.   She claimed she had
too much excitement for one day and excused herself from her company.   She slammed the door to her room and moments
later her mother entered.
    “What is the matter with you?   Cole seems like a fine catch and he is
willing to marry you,” her mother accused.
    “Mother, he is a crass man.   I want nothing to do with him.   He
tried to take advantage of me in the garden and thought I was well experienced
when it came to men.”
    “Oh honey, is that all?   He was just trying to see if the two of you were going to be
compatible.   He was probably just judging
your reaction to see for himself that you were inexperienced.   I wouldn’t worry about it since he came in
and asked for your hand.   You will make
such a beautiful bride.”
    “You are not listening.   I do not want to marry that awful man!”   Mercy practically screamed.
    “Calm down dear.   Your
father would not have arranged it if he thought it would not be a good
match.   I’m afraid what’s done is done
and there is no backing out now.   If you
break your commitment no other man will chance courting you.   Cole is your only chance.   Sleep on it and I’m sure you will come to
your senses by morning,” Melany said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead and wished her good night.
    Mercy was furious as she lay on her bed.   No, no,
no!   She thought over and over again
until she finally gave in to slumber.   When she awoke the following morning, she thought perhaps it had all
been a bad dream.   She was disturbed by the
knocking at the front door and went down to see who it was that was calling on
them so early this morning.   It was a
messenger.
    “That was fast,” Michael said as he opened the envelope.
    “What is it dear?”   Melany asked.
    “It is the special license for Mercy and Cole to get an
expedited marriage and a letter from Cole saying that he wishes to forego an
announcement at the next ball and get married tomorrow.”
    “Tomorrow,” both Melany and Mercy said at the same time.
    This can’t be
happening to me, thought Mercy as her mother could not control her
excitement.
    “Oh Mercy, we have so much to do today.   We have to get my wedding dress altered to
fit you, pick out the reception food, ….” Melany went on and on while Mercy
tuned her out and willed it to all be a nightmare.
    Moments later another knock came at the door.   Cole greeted her parents then turned to find
Mercy glaring at him.   “My dear, I hope
this is not too sudden for you.   I have
pressing business to attend to later in the week at my country estate and I will
not be available to attend the next ball so I thought I would it would be in
our best interest to tie the knot as soon as possible.   We do not have to have a big affair since it
is such short notice.   All we need are a
couple of witnesses and an officiator.”
    “We will manage it in such short notice.   We can use the garden for the ceremony and
have the reception right here if that pleases you,” Melany stated.
    “Wonderful,” Cole said as he was still receiving an icy
stare from Mercy.   “Will that be alright
with you?” he asked Mercy while he tried desperately to keep from smiling at
her misery.
    Mercy could only nod before she passed out.   When she came to she was in her room.   Melany was calling her name and bathing her
forehead with a cold cloth.
    “I’m fine Mother.   You
can stop now,” Mercy said as he sat up.  
    “Cole left to find an officiator for tomorrow.   We set the time for noon.   We need to get you fitted for my old dress as
soon as you are ready.”
    “I can’t do this,” Mercy pleaded.
    “Yes you can and you will.   Now let’s get busy,” Melany said as she whisked Mercy out of bed and
practically dragged her to the sewing room and rushed off to get the dress.
    For the remainder of the day everyone was busy preparing for
the next day’s festivities.   The