2 September 2012
I winced slightly as my mother tightly yanked the lace strings on the corset, tying it as tight as she could.
"Something wrong, dear?" Mother asked from behind me, lacing the dress back up.
"No, Mother," I replied sarcastically.
"Watch your tongue, young lady," she scolded, and spun me around. "There, you look gorgous. Now, remind me how this evening is going to go?"
I sighed and mumbled, "I act very, very ladylike, so a boy's parents will like me, and if they are wealthy, I am to be wedded to him."
"Good." she clapped her hands softly twice. "Meredith, Sharon, Connor."
The three came into the room, workers my mother hired because she is too lazy to do one slight chore. They were all my age, seventeen. Well, I will be turning eighteen soon. We all watched my mother walk out of the room before anyone opened their mouth.
"Hello," Connor said, nudging me softly on the arm.
"Hello, Connor," I replied with a grin. "Hello, Meredith, Shannon."
"Better be goin' to that party of yers," Meredith patted me on the shoulder in that accent of hers, Scottish or Irish, I believe.
"You look like a princess straight from the castle!" Shannon cooed.
"Thank you," I smiled. "Well," I took a look at each of their faces, lingering a bit at Connor's. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
--
I sat in the horse drawn cart, my dress puffing up around me. "Mother?"
"Yes, Alyssa?"
"I know that wealth is the thing you are concerned for, but please don't marry me to an ugly boy."
She laughed, I smiled. "Yes dear."
I looked over the side and saw a group of girls. "Oh, it's Claire!" I chirped happily. We have been friends since childhood. She wore a purple satin dress, which matched her complextion well.
"Hello," I greeted.
Claire smiled. "Hello." she turned to the three girls around her. "Felicity, Jane, Alexandria, this is a very good friend of mine, Alyssa."
They all curtsied, which made me feel out of place for never doing so.
"Let's go in," Claire said. "They are going to serve dinner soon."
--
Inside, my mother and I sat across from Claire and her mother. I was seated (most likely intentionally) next to a boy who looked my age, and had boyish good looks. I kept my mouth shut, however, hoping he wouldn't try to stir up conversation.
"Douglas," he said.
I winced. Ugh. "Alyssa."
My mother passed me a basket of rolls after carefully looking for one without any seeds. I took one from the top.
"Pretty name," he offered.
I nodded and handed him the basket, trying to avoid letting our hands touch.
"May I have your attention?" a man stood up, hitting his glass with a knife.
If Worse Comes To Worst • Opuss № I