This development is indeed exceeding my expectation. I originally planned to matchmake my sister with Sir Anthony by creating chances where they can interact with each other. Like, make a picnic with my sister, my fiancé and Sir Anthony in backyard garden together. But now, without I make this matchmaking effort, he already proposed my sister. What a surprise!
Talking about surprise, I'm not the only one who surprised. My father also surprised with this sudden proposal from Sir Anthony. But as a person who already faced many experiences in life, he quickly gets a hold of the situation. With a light cough, he stands and speaks to Sir Anthony
"As Eliza's father, it's an honor that my daughter catches Sir Anthony attention. There's no problem with accepting your proposal, but there's also another proposal submitted to me before, and the one who got married is not me but my daughter. It's her decision to choose which one between these two proposals that she'll accept.
Then my father turns his head to my sister and speaking
"Eliza, your father just accept another proposal from a man who wishes to make you as his wife. Since you already had another marriage proposal, then is up to you to choose which man that will marry you."
My father turns his head back to Sir Anthony
"Young man, I've said what I should say. Now, it's your turn to show your sincerity for my daughter"
Sir Anthony nodded and answer it
"I understand. I will show the sincerity in my proposal to her"
After saying that, Sir Anthony walks to approaching my sister.
"Miss Eliza, I sincerely want to make you as my wife. Your father already accept my proposal and here's the proof my sincerity, the dowry for our marriage"
Anthony takes his money pouch from his waist and handed it to my sister. It looks bigger an heavier than the pouch from Roland Easton. My sister also among the people who surprised with Sir Anthony's action, and rarely socialized with different gender outside the Harvard castle, which makes her standing dumbfounded in front of me with a blushing face, didn't know what should do or say. I give the sign to the servant who receives the pouch from Roland to do the same with Anthony's pouch.
"Excuse me, young master…should I open and count the content too?"
"Yes, please do it"
I'm a bit shocked when seeing some yellow coins glittering between the pile of coins from Anthony's pouch.
GOLD COINS!
There're gold coins in that pouch. A single gold coin already surpassed what Roland give as dowry. And there's at least a dozen of them in that pouch. This Earl Stamfort's son is surely much different with a certain son of an Earl who only knows to indulge in pleasure. Not waiting for long, the servant finish counting the money and reporting the result
"Young master Henry, there're 15 gold coins and 50 silver coins in the pouch"
"Very well, put them back in the pouch. Also the one from Mr. Roland"
"Yes, Young master Henry"
Wow, to carry such wealth in a trip in here, I can't make measurement how wealthy the nobles from a high rank are.
"Sis, there are two men here want to make you as his wife. One is Mr. Roland Easton with 20 silver coins as dowry, another one is Sir Anthony Stamfort with dowry 15 gold coins and 50 silver coins. Our father already gives you the liberty to choose whoever you want to marry. Could you give your answer now? It's not good to make them wait for your answer too long"
My sister didn't answer it, instead, she drags me backward, away from Roland and Anthony
"Ah? Henry….Do I really had to choose?"
She's asking me with a low voice.
Huh? Number one handsome guy in the capital is proposing you to be his wife and you still thinking not to choose him? What's on my sister mind actually?
"Sis, are you going to refuse Anthony proposal too? Then what are you going to do with your life?"
"Actually…I only want to drop my engagement with Roland then living my life as you suggested to me before, make a tailor shop and sell clothes…but I never expecting Sir Anthony also propose me too. Do you think I should accept his proposal?"
Oh my God! I secretly sighed with the attitude of my sister. Please sister! There're maybe hundreds girls from high-rank nobles want to be his wife, thousands of commoner girls want to be his mistress, and maybe hundred thousand girls, whether unmarried or married, willing to accompany him to bed just for one night stand and you ever thought to reject his proposal?
"Sis, don't you know that Sir Anthony rumored to be number one handsome person in Capital city?"
"Uh, I never know any rumor about him"
Ugh…I want to palm face at my face if I could after hear my sister's answer
"Sis, I bet there're a thousand girls will make a line up if he said he will take a wife. Besides, I think he's a good guy too"
"Henry, I'm sure I'm not in the thousand girls you just mentioned. And how do you know he's a good guy?"
"Well, don't you realize…if he's not come up with the marriage proposal, you must accept Roland's proposal? He comes at the right time to release you from Roland's grip. Besides that, he's also my fiancé's brother…that makes us still in the same family. We can still meet again many times after you marry him. Imagine if you marry a person who comes from a distant place who completely stranger for us. I can't meet you leisurely even though you're my sister"
"Yes, you're right Henry….So, you think I should accept Sir Anthony proposal?"
The expression on my sister's face suddenly changes after my words. There's no hesitation anymore show in her face. I wonder which parts of my words make her no longer hesitate. Is that the words 'we still can meet again'? Have I become the one who obstructing my sister's romance?
"I think you should, sis. Do you worry we can't see each other again after you married?"
My sister nodded her head. Oh my God! She's starting to cling to me to the extent she doesn't care if she will not marry anyone anymore.
"He's a good guy and loving his woman. I believe you can find your happiness with him, sis. If he makes you unhappy, I'll come to your place and give him some beating"
My sister smiles when hear what I promised to her.
"If you say so…then I will accept his marriage proposal, Henry"
After saying that, my sister walks and approaching Sir Anthony and speak in the tone that everyone in the dining hall can hear.
"Sir Anthony…if you're really willing to take me as your wife, then I should reply to your sincerity by saying I receive your marriage offer and willing to become your wife"