Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 23

"My sister Helsa always hate any kind of housework so I did all of it. The cleaning, the cooking, the sewing, taking care of Razzle and Dazzle. I didn't mind. I only wish that she wouldn't insult me so."

"She insults you?" He inquired.

"It's nothing really. I've learned to ignore it and I really shouldn't let it upset me so much. She doesn't mean she says she's just upset about living on a farm."

"Did your father ever object to these insults?"

"He never knew. She never insulted me in front of him and I never complained. I have no right to complain to him about anything. He already has so much burdening him. He doesn't need my petty whining."

"Was he unhappy on the farm too?"

"Just as miserable as my sister. All he wanted was to somehow get his fortune back or obtain a new one. That's why he was so insisted on marrying me off."

"You were to be married?" He inquired.

"No. Not exactly. Although Father did have someone picked out and he had given him permission to court me."

"Who may I ask was your suitor to be?"

"My stepbrother Sevithan."

"He wanted you to marry your stepbrother?"

"Well it's better than him wanting me to marry my cousin like some other noble families do."

"I never understood that tradition. In fact I find it to be quite depraved."

"So do I. Nevertheless Sevithan and I aren't blood relatives so technically a union between us wouldn't be incest."

"I suppose. What was he like?"

"According to my father the perfect husband for me. A rich, sophisticated, and handsome young marquis who my father viewed as the son he never had. If we were to wed my father would once again be dreadfully wealthy."

"But what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well it's obvious your father would be tickled if you married him but how would you feel? Did you want to marry him?"

"I do acknowledge that he's dashing and charming. I can understand any woman's joy at the prospect of becoming his wife."

"Yes handsome men are so easy to love, aren't they?" She could see a smile on his face but she could hear the melancholy in his voice.

"But I didn't love him." She continued. "Also I didn't really like the idea of marrying him."

"Why not? Are good looks and money all that a woman desires in a husband?"

"Not me. He was handsome but also rude and conceited and...And...He just wasn't for me. Even so I still considered accepting."

"Why?"

"Because my father said it was for the best. He was certain that I would be happy with him. That there was no other man better suited to me."

"Isn't that your decision to make?"

"Yes but I...I didn't want to displease him. I didn't want to be ungrateful."

"Ungrateful? For not wanting a husband that you didn't even seek out?"

"You don't understand. Since the moment I was born he's devoted himself completely to me. He's given me everything."

"But has he really my dear?"

"What do you mean?"

"True he gave you a very luxurious life when you had wealth and he seemed to have good intentions when he decided to find you a husband but did he ever really do anything you wanted? You said that you always wanted him to spend time with you but he was too wrapped up in his own work and other desires to comply with your wishes. Then there's the fact that he does not seem to really consider your thoughts on the suitor he's picked for you."

"I will have you know my father loves me very much."

"Now I didn't say that. I'm sure he loves you a great deal. But it is very common for people to ignore the wants and desires of those they love. To forget to think about how their loved one would feel about certain things. For example say a woman ends up married to a man that her family does not approve of. In fact they think the man is a inferior and repulsive sub creature who will only ruin in the life of that woman. So they do something terrible to him. Something that removes him from her life for good. They claim they did for her own good yet not once did it ever occur to them that maybe she was happy with her husband. Maybe she loved him despite them thinking he was inferior. In other words they didn't consider how she felt about the entire situation."

"But that's not the same thing."

"Isn't it?"

"That would be just terrible. Awful. I don't even think you could call that love. My father has good intentions when he makes choices for me."

"That woman's family had good intentions. Their intent was to free her from a miserable marriage. Now that sounds like a good intention to me. However my dear the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Meaning even if your goal was to do the right thing you could still end up doing the wrong thing. Even if you love someone and want only what's best for them you could still end up ruining their life."

Charlotte wanted to argue but she couldn't help but think that he had a point. Her father may have had her best interests at heart but he never really made choices for her based on her own thoughts and feelings. He just always assumed that he knew what was best for her and before now she didn't particularly see it as a bad thing.

"It appears you have finished your meal." Alastor observed while unintentionally interrupting her thoughts. He emerged from his chair. "I shall excuse myself now. Niffty will soon come to take your plate. I bid you a goodnight Charlotte."

"Wait."

"Yes my dear?"

"I really enjoyed talking with you again. Especially this time. Will you please continue to talk with me at dinner?"

"Of course."

"And when you do will you please sit at the table with me?"

By the look in his eyes she feared that he would say no. Luckily he replied with,

"If you wish it my beauty then it shall be."

He said no more after that and slowly left the dining room.