Capítulo 3: Chapter 2
Livana was seated around the table with her family. Her father was at one end of the table and her mother at the other end of it. She was on her father's left and James on his right, in front of her. Susanna was next to her and Lucy was in front of Susanna, so Lucy was on their mother's left and Susanna on her right. The table was ridiculously big and there was way too much food on it for the six of them but it was always that way.
They were all eating in silence. Livana didn't talk a lot when in the presence of her parents, afraid to say the wrong thing. Because she wasn't only not pretty enough for them, she was also too clumsy most of the time. She had learned a long time ago that if she wanted to avoid saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment she should keep quiet as much as possible. It wasn't easy, Livana was rather a talkative person and couldn't help herself from participating in conversations most of the time. But she would never be the one to start a conversation, or rarely so.
"I met a gentleman today," Walter Langley said breaking the silence. "He was fairly young, I would say in his late twenties, and very good-looking."
"I did not see him," James stated before taking a sip from his glass of wine. Livana listened without really caring about what they were saying, focused on her food.
"You were in deep conversation with Lord Vallace a little further away," Walter explained.
"What is so interesting about this man?" Edith chimed in seemingly annoyed.
"He heard me talking about our beautiful daughters," Walter said with a smile. There it was, that unhealthy pride. Who talked about their daughters' beauty all the time? "Turns out this gentleman would like to meet our daughters."
"What for?" Edith asked slightly leaning forward in interest.
"He wants to see if one of them could become his wife. He is a wealthy man, he has lands, a lot of them by the sound of it. So much so that his mansion is away from town. He said his mansion is deeper in the forest that surrounds town. Marrying one of our daughters to someone who possesses so much land can only be beneficial to us, it could come in handy someday," Walter said seriously.
Livana looked up, interested in the conversation all of a sudden. She probably wasn't concerned by all of this. She was the youngest and this man would probably choose Susanna or Lucy over her. She wasn't even sure her parents would include her in the daughters they would show off to this man.
"The man who lives in the enormous mansion that's deep into the dark and scary forest that starts a few miles away from town?" Lucy asked taking part in the conversation. "Everyone thought it belonged to a rich old man."
"What's his name?" Susanna asked putting her fork down.
Of course, the both of them were interested in the conversation. One of them would potentially end up engaged and then married to this man by the look of it.
"Nathaniel Blakeley," James replied at everyone's surprise. "I have seen him once or twice before. Very mysterious."
"And very handsome," Susanna exclaimed obviously recognizing the name.
"You two know him?" Lucy asked with furrowed brows. At least Livana wasn't the only one not knowing at all who he was.
"I don't know him, I just know who he is, what he looks like," Susanna explained looking at her sister. "Every girl would want to be his wife. He is mysterious, handsome, and dangerous."
"I wouldn't want mystery and danger," Livana disagreed finally speaking.
"Good. He wouldn't want you anyway," Lucy viciously said.
"Lucy, you don't know that," Susanna scolded her calmly.
A sad smile appeared on Livana's face. Susanna wasn't as harsh as Lucy and their parents. She was trying to be nicer than them. But Livana knew she thought exactly the same as them.
"Of course, she knows that. We all know that, Susanna," Edith said with a chuckle. Livana felt like she was being stabbed. It was always so painful, she would probably never get used to her mother thinking so little of her.
"Mother," James said sternly but she ignored him. Everyone ignored him. Livana looked up at him and smiled weakly to silently thank him.
"Did he tell you why he is looking for a wife?" Edith asked her husband.
"I did not ask. He is a rich man. He probably wants to get alliances thanks to a marriage. And he probably wants children, an heir. Like any other man," Walter explained nonchalantly. "He will come here next week to meet our daughters."
"Next week?" Lucy exclaimed. "How exciting!"
Yes, how exciting, Livana thought sarcastically. She couldn't understand their excitement. Arranged marriages were as common as love marriages in Umani but Livana wanted her marriage to be a love marriage, not an arranged one. Women were men's properties here, so if it had to be that way she would rather be the property of someone she loved and who loved her. She didn't have to worry anyway, he wouldn't choose her. Good. And there was the example of Judith's marriage. Everyone knew she wasn't happy in her marriage.
"I already know which dress I will be wearing," Susanna said smiling from ear to ear.
"Livana, make sure you are not in the garden with no makeup on and not dressed decently the day he comes," Edith said curtly.
"I will be introduced to him as well?" Livana asked taken aback.
"Of course. He wants to meet our daughters. And you are no real competition for your sisters so there would be no point in hiding you." It was like she had no idea how hurtful her words were. Livana looked down not saying anything. She saw James stiffening in his seat but he didn't say anything even though she was certain he wanted to.
Later that night, Livana was in her bedchamber. She was standing in front of the full length mirror with her hands up in front of her on each side of it. Agnes was behind her unlacing her corset. She didn't look up in the mirror. She didn't want to see her reflection. She didn't want to see her face. She had no makeup on anymore and didn't want to see her freckles. She used to wonder what she had done wrong for her mother to be so cruel with her but she had stopped a long time ago. She couldn't find the answer to that question and probably never would.
"Do you want me to bring you some tea when we are done, my lady?" Agnes asked politely.
"No, thank you," Livana declined.
"Tonight is a full moon. You have always had difficulties sleeping during those," Agnes insisted and Livana turned her gaze toward the window to her right. She saw the moon and sighed. She hadn't realized tonight was a full moon. Agnes was right, she didn't sleep well during those. It was strange but not uncommon according to what people said.
"Then yes, I would gladly drink some tea before going to bed. Thank you, Agnes," Livana changed her mind.
Once she was in her nightgown and seated on her bed, with a cup of tea in her hands, she thought Agnes would excuse herself and leave but she didn't. Livana didn't say anything. She didn't mind Agnes being around, she was always so nice to her. She was probably waiting until she would be done drinking her tea so she could take the empty cup with her before leaving. She brought the tea closer to her lips and blew on it.
"While I was preparing your teacup, I heard some servants talking." Agnes eventually broke the silence. "They said your father met a man who would like to meet you and your sisters to choose a bride."
"Yes, this is correct," Livana confirmed seeing the question in the older woman's eyes.
"They also said that it was the man who lived in the mansion buried deep in the forest around town," Agnes continued.
"Yes, it's him," Livana confirmed once more, furrowing her brows as she took a sip of the hot tea.
"I am old. I have heard and seen a lot of things, my lady. This forest is dangerous. It is infested with lethal beasts. There have been many deaths there, most of the time during full moons. A full moon can deprive humans from sleep but it seems it can also drive animals crazy."
"Why are you telling me this?" Livana asked swallowing and trying not to show her fear.
"There are rumors about the man who lives in the mansion buried deep in the forest. Some say he isn't alone and there are many people living around him, in the forest itself. Some say he is the one ruling over the beasts that kill during full moons." Agnes was only whispering now. A chill ran down Livana's spine.
"I have never heard any of these rumors. Neither have my parents or they wouldn't introduce us to him. You know I don't sleep well on full moons. I do not need you to tell me scary stories on top of that," Livana said a little curtly.
"You're right. I'm sorry, my lady. I should go now. Sleep well," Agnes said nicely.
"It's all right. Good night, Agnes," Livana said nicely as the woman walked out of the room.
Livana finished her tea and lied down in her bed. She closed her eyes trying to fall asleep. Beasts in the forest. Many deaths. Full moons drove animals crazy. Rumors about the man in the mansion. He ruled over the beasts. Livana's eyes snapped open. She would never be able to sleep if she kept thinking about this. She could see clearly in her room. The moonlight was so intense. She pushed her covers aside and stood up from her bed. She walked toward the window and drew the curtains shut. She hated full moons and Agnes' story was really not helping. She went back to her bed and lied back down.
She shouldn't be worried about tales related by her ladies maid anyway. She should be worried about the fact that she would be introduced to a man to potentially be chosen as his bride. She didn't want that, her sisters wanted it, she would gladly let them have it. It was probably mean to think that way but she wished he would choose Lucy. It would mean only Susanna and James would be left here with her and they were the nicest ones with her, even though it wasn't really genuine on Susanna's part. It was still better than Lucy's nasty remarks. But Nathaniel Blakeley would probably choose Susanna and her big amazing blue eyes. And it would be to their parent's happiness, she was the oldest of the three.
She wasn't even jealous of her sisters' beauty. She was happy for them. She just wished her parents wouldn't bring her down for not being as pretty as them all the time. And it was with those thoughts that she eventually fell asleep.
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