Clara looked at the man who was dressed smartly. Her blue eyes raked his body from his neatly combed hair down to his shiny, polished black shoes. But his cute bow tie, white-gloved hand and age told her that this was not her new son-in-law.
"You are not Ian!"
The maid snickered and lowered her head to not be held accountable. The man looked like a worker of the household, so he was obviously not the groom.
"Yes, ma'am, I am not. I am the driver sent to pick up the master's new bride-to-be."
"What?! A driver? Why did he not come himself?"
"I am not at liberty to say, ma'am."
"Well... Is any family member in the car then?" Clara asked yet once again in a hopeful voice because the Maybach behind the man was tainted all black, and she could not see anything or anyone in it.
"No, ma'am. It's just me."
"J-just you? What kind of ridiculous situation is this?!" Clara could feel her agitation start to rise.
"What is going on here, James? Were you aware of this?" Anchoring both arms to her waist, her eyes turned fierce as she glared at her husband.
"You promised me that she would have the best of life, and they had her best interest at heart, but why is a – a… I mean, why is- a mere driver here to pick her up when they are the ones in a hurry?" She demanded, disregarding that the driver was within earshot.
To be fair, Clara was the only one who did not know of the details of her daughter's contracted marriage. So, she expected, at least, some perks with the arranged marriage.
But little did she know that her beloved husband had signed away her daughter in a contracted marriage where he had absolute perks. In such an arrangement, the paying side always had the upper hand, but this was something that James would never admit to his wife.
"Honeeeeeyyyyy," James started and took one of her arms, massaging her fingers gently, a gesture that was known to calm her down.
"Why do you think that this is bad? Look! Ian Thornston sent this beautiful pricy car with a driver to escort his wife to him. This is like a queenly treatment! This is his exclusive ride and no one has ever been seen riding in it before apart from him."
Clara's frowning face relaxed a tad bit. "Really? Queenly treatment?"
Noticing these subtle details, James pushed on, "Of course! If such a man does this, I know it is because he has seen Shelby's beauty and is willing to move the heavens for her!"
"A-re y-ou sure of this, James?" Even though Clara sounded uncertain, her stance had clearly relaxed, meaning that she believed her husband's words.
James said this only for Clara's benefit and did not believe the words himself. He was surprised that that specific car had been sent for Shelby. Though he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, his gains were much more and soon.
He tucked what he felt were unpleasant thoughts at the back of his mind. He drew her in for another hug and then added, "Of course! Imagine what they could do for her if they were doing this on day one…. Isn't that right?" James turned to the driver.
The driver bowed deeply but did not say anything. He briefly wondered why the bride's father was even asking him this, as if he had a say in what his master did. He shook his head internally and thought, 'What is wrong with the bride's mother though?'
But this gesture was enough for Clara to believe.
"Wait! One more thing. Doesn't this confirm the fact that Ian Thornston is sick and has not been seen outside for a couple of years now?"
James rubbed his wife's back soothingly. He loved her, but sometimes, she just loved to test his patience! Taking in a deep breath, he said, "Those are all lies!"
"Are you sure?"
"Hey Clara, do you think I will send our daughter to her demise? To a family that would not value her?"
With that response, Clara felt a little guilty for not believing her husband. The maid and the driver at the scene remained passive, with no emotions showing on their face.
"Let's talk about this later on, okay? Honey? For now, we have a guest to attend to."
Little did Clara know that that was exactly what her husband had done. Giving out her only daughter for his business benefits!
"Silly me! Please come in," Clara detangled herself from James and smiled at the driver.
"Thank you for the offer, but the family is waiting for the new bride, and I cannot wait any longer. Can you bring her down?"
***
Shelby furiously wiped her tears in her room and thought, 'Why am I crying? At least I do not have to pretend around him anymore.'
"Where is the dress?"
The maid in the room asked the other one, who had come back in empty-handed.
"They want Miss Shelby downstairs now. The dress was sent to the car already."
"Miss?"
Shelby sighed and then stood up without saying anything.
'My fate is already sealed. There is no need to do anything,' she thought and followed them downstairs.
"Shelby baby, we will follow swiftly. The ceremony is supposed to be held soon. My baby is finally grown enough to have a family of her own. Take care of yourself, my sweet Shelby,"
Clara whispered in her ear with a tight hug just before she got into the car, but Shelby did not even react when she saw just the driver and no other person. The driver took the one suitcase that had been packed for her as well as the simple-looking white dress on a hanger and placed them all in the car.
'Don't cry… Shelby, Don't cry!' she chanted to herself but looking at the gloating look on her step-father's face when he thought no one was looking, she finally broke down into another round of silent tears just as the car moved her towards her new life.
Clara watched the car drive further and further away from her and then asked,
"James?"
"Hmmm?"
"This marriage looks so strange … I mean … why are they so much in a hurry to take Shelby away without any marriage formalities? Is there something I should know?"
_____