My Arranged Marriage

The Wedding Bargain

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I wake up with a jerk. 

“We’re here” he says and I nod and get out of the car.  I stand in front of a huge house…more like a mansion.  It was even bigger than Daphne’s. 

There are a few people standing at the gate to welcome us.  They all seem rather nice.  As soon as we walk inside, we see a group of men in suits sitting in the living room. 

“Ah, you are here.” My husband says and walks towards them.

“This is my wife, Demetria” he says.  Hearing someone call me by my full name after years feels weird.

I try my best to smile and greet them back. 

“I have an important meeting, I will be in the library” he says and heads off with the men.  I stand there staring after him.  As soon as he is out of sight, I let out a sigh.  So it’s not a real marriage. That was why he was okay with it.

The others then introduce themselves.

“I am Marcus, your cook.  I will make you a lovely breakfast tomorrow.” He says and heads off after I greet him.

“I am Harold, the house butler and this is Mrs Primrose, the housekeeper here. We also have Angie, who will be your personal maid, but she is currently at the hospital to visit her mother.” He says.

Harold seems in his 50s with greying hair while Mrs Primrose is like the typical angry looking housekeepers.

“I will take you to your room, Miss Demetria” she says and starts walking with Harold taking my suitcases.

I thank them both.  “You should not thank us yet.” Mrs Primrose says gruffly. 

“A bride should not be alone on her wedding night” she says with a temper.  Harold coughs at the back and Mrs Primrose gets even angrier.

As soon as I am left alone, I walk to the bathroom and take a long cold shower.  This was going to be my life from now on.  My future looked even more bleak.  

As soon as I am done, I walk towards the bed.  I have a distinct feeling that I will be sleeping alone in it and I relish the thought.  Sleeping with a total stranger was just too weird. 

There were lots of questions in my mind…what would happen now, what kind of a relationship we would share.  But right now, the bed seemed so inviting and I was sure to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I wake up to knockings on the door.  It takes me a moment to situate myself.  I glance around and see my husband on the sofa.  Why would he sleep here? He is awakened by the noise too.  He gives me a sharp look, one that says, you need to look the happy bride.  I take a minute to compose myself while he opens the door.

“You need to come greet the guests.  They are all leaving” a female voice says.  “We’ll be there in a few minutes” I hear my husband say and I walk to the bathroom even before he could turn around.  I wanted to avoid conversation with him at all cost, scared that he might say that we should be husband and wife in the real sense.  In a few minutes I shower and brush and get dressed in a blue dress.

“You look so lovely” Mrs McMillan gushes as soon as she sees me. 

“I am so sorry you could not go on your honeymoon.” She says with a sigh.  Wait there was supposed to be a honeymoon?