“That’s unfortunate because trust me when I tell you that your sister Francinewillmarry Axel Grey. And if you tell her who her future husband is before we’re ready to announce it, then I will be very angry and there will be consequences. I didn’t tell you so you could inform her of her fate. I told you to make you understand the reality ofyourcircumstances.”
Lucy squinted. Her mother had read her mind. That was precisely what she had planned to do. She wanted to tell Francine about who she had to marry and then planned to talk her out of it. All of a sudden, something occurred to her.
Would Francine even want to marry Axel Grey? Would she want to live on Earth? They talked about lots of things, but the prospect of living on Earth had never come up.
“Francine won’t want to live on Earth.”
Her mother frowned. “All of the arranged marriages we have planned come with a lovely home in the best of the protected spheres. She certainly won’t have to live on this backwater colony planet.”
Lucy scowled. Thwarted again. She crossed her arms and thought about what else she could do to ensure this marriage between Axel and Francine never took place. Likely the only way was to have her parents call it off.
Would Francine ever be moved to put her foot down and refuse her own arranged marriage?
Francine used to have a secret crush on someone with the initials H.R., but Lucy wasn’t supposed to know and it had been several years ago. If H.R. was still her sister’s secret crush, Francine wouldn’t want to marry Axel, would she? How could Lucy use that to her advantage?
Depending on who her parents had selected for her, perhaps a trade could be rendered. It was inconceivable that Lucy had been matched up with H.R., but the idea gave her a glimmer of hope. Maybe all was not lost. Once Francine found out Lucy loved Axel she wouldn’t insist on marrying him.
Lucy had been staring at her mother for a long time. Adeline Duvall stared back, her expression wary. Even though her mother’s silence was intended to disarm her, Lucy couldn’t take it. “Are you going to tell me the name of the young man I’m supposed to marry?”Is it H.R. so Francine and I can trade?
“I don’t believe I will.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t trust you. I think you’re up to something. You will find out who your bridegroom is at the same time all of your sisters do.”
“And when will that be?”
Her mother’s expression soured as if she hated to give over any further information, but she said, “Initially, your father and I planned to tell the five of you the month before Drucilla’s birthday. However, I believe we will have a discussion tonight at dinner.” She nodded decisively. “Make sure you dress nicely, Lucinda. I’m sure your sisters will look nice, as they generally do.”
“Wait until they find out the dinnertime subject. You might be surprised about what they will do,generally.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I expect your sisters will all be very happy with the young men we’ve chosen for them and the generous living quarters we’ve arranged in premium places on Alpha-Prime. Just as I believe that you will come to appreciate and learn to love the young man we’ve chosen for you.”
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up on that. And you may also be surprised about the reaction to your commandments of how we will all spend the rest of our lives.” Lucy turned away from her mother again. She wouldn’t have time to speak to Francine before dinner. But they would sit at the table next to each other. Perhaps she would have a chance before dinner started. She pondered the unlikely scenario of any trading options and the excessively slim chance they represented.
If Francine did not want to marry Axel Grey—and Lucy knew she probably wouldn’t, even though he was the most wonderful man in the world—maybe theycouldtrade. They had discussed arranged marriages a long time ago, but they’d been young and excited about the romantic prospect. Things had changed since their fanciful preteen days.
Would her sisters be happy with arranged marriages to strangers? Ardelia maybe, the others, she wasn’t certain.
Maybe the five of them could all band together in a show of force to tell their parents they didn’t want to marry the young strangers chosen for them at birth.
Maybe all of her sisters wanted to fall in love. Francine might have already. Lucy certainly was in love with Axel.
Maybe they would start a trend.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. And maybe unicorns from Earther lore were real and pranced through the galaxy spreading rainbows and sprinkles to all. Not likely.
It wouldn’t be that easy. Nothing important ever was.
While Lucy couldn’t count on success, she could still wish for it. Because if her parents insisted on a marriage between the second-born children, Lucy was never going to be the second born. Third born and middle child never felt so horrible as it did in this moment.
Lucy heard the door to her room close as her mother left without another word. She looked at the clock, noting she had only an hour until dinner. She went to her closet and picked out an actual dress as her mother had suggested. When she showed up to dinner in a dress, her sisters would want to know why. She planned to tell them. Maybe that would throw things off during the pre-dinner cocktail hour.
If nothing else, Lucy planned to sneak off the airship tonight and go find the love of her life for at least one last perfect kiss.
Chapter Eight
