Maeve smiled wryly and shook her head. “We both know I’m about as average as a lass can get. There’s nothin’ special about me.”
“That’s not true. That glorious auburn hair is enough to attract attention and your eyes are beautiful. Unfortunately, I think O’Malley is attracted to your spirited nature.”
“Why unfortunately?”
“Most men say they want a quiet, manageable wife and some truly do, but O’Malley would be bored with a woman like that before the honeymoon was over. You’re quick witted and feisty. There’s a fire in you that draws him in, but in the end, it will burn you too, my girl. Make no mistake about that.”
“Aye, I’ve felt that burn and I can’t say as I like it,” Maeve admitted, “but there’s passion too. I feel somethin’ when he touches me I’ve never felt before. I want him, Ma,” she whispered, softly blushing.
“A passionate man is both a treasure and a curse,” Margaret sighed. “Only you can decide if the price is to dear to pay.”
“It doesn’t matter now anyway,” Maeve said, her shoulders drooping. “I doubt I could get rid of him even if I wanted to.”
“There is a way,” Margaret said slyly, watching her daughter out of the corner of her eye as she rose to begin peeling potatoes for their supper.
“How? Sean O’Malley is the most determined and stubborn man I’ve ever met. Once he sets his mind to somethin’, it’s as good as done.”
“It won’t be easy to get rid of him, especially for you,” Margaret warned, keeping her back turned as she smiled. “It goes against your nature.”
“Am I goin’ to commit a crime?” Maeve gasped. “Poison him or somethin’?”
“Of course not,” Margaret snorted, “Although that might be easier,” she continued thoughtfully.
“Ma!”
“I’m teasin’,” she laughed as she returned to the table and patted Maeve’s shoulder.
“Goodness, you had me worried for a moment,” Maeve sighed in relied. “How do you think I could get Sean to change his mind about marryin’ me…if that’s what I wanted?”
“You’d have to change your ways. Be submissive to him.”
“Submissive!”
“Aye. The O’Malley likes your fiery nature and sassy mouth. He likes it when you challenge him. It allows his dominant side to emerge and he feels justified in disciplinin’ you. Suppose you were quiet and well-behaved? Just suppose he never had call to scold you or reprimand you? If you were soft spoken and did everythin’ he told you to do, without argument or complaint, within reason of course,” she added with narrowed eyes. “How long before he became bored? Do you think he’d still be so determined to wed you if you had no opinions of your own, or if you ‘yes dear’ him near to death?” she said and laughed.
Maeve was quiet as she considered her mother’s words regarding Sean. Most of their conversations did turn into arguments of one kind or another. He was exceedingly dictatorial and she was just as determined to have her own way. Would he release her from her promise to marry him if she were different? He seemed to enjoy spanking her and delighted in gaining her compliance. Suppose she gave it freely? Would his attraction to her wane? Did she want it to?
Of course, the odds she could keep up such a masquerade for long were slim, but maybe it wouldn’t take long. She acknowledged a break-up would be the end of all her girlish dreams and it was heart wrenching. On the other hand, she wasn’t at all sure they were suited and she didn’t relish sittingon a sore bottom for the next thirty or forty years every time she angered him.
Part of her argued that over time she would learn his ways and he hers and they’d manage to compromise, but he didn’t sound very flexible on the telephone. He intended to deal with her when he returned, and she had no doubt he meant every word. While that was a spanking she didn’t have a prayer of escaping unless she left town, perhaps she could avoid any future ones if she took her ma’s advice to heart.
“Ma, I wouldn’t know where to start. I can’t change overnight and Sean will be back soon.”
“The first thing you need to do is go to work tomorrow and tell Mr. McGreevy you can only work on the weekend. You must return to school on Monday.”
“But Ma, they all think?—”
“The devil with what they think; you know the truth. You need your certificate no matter what you decide to do and you’ve worked too hard to let it slip from your fingers. It’s not like you to let a few mean spirited girls control your actions.
“Then you need to take some of your wages and buy yourself a few things, like pants that don’t fit so tightly and a skirt or two that are of a descent length for an engaged young woman. Start usin’ a bit less of that face paint and tame that wild hair. You can still look attractive without being allurin’.”
“What else?” Maeve groaned.
“The hardest challenge will be curbin’ your tongue,” Margaret pointed out with a slight grin. “I can’t help you with that, but I imagine if you call to mind being over The O’Malley’s knee, that should help.”
“Aye, it would at that,” Maeve admitted, squirming on her chair and thinking about Sean’s return.
“Be cordial and deferential to his mother, much as it galls me to say so. Don’t give him any excuse to chastise you. Keep yourtemper in check and stay so cool butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth. I’ll bet it won’t be long before he has second thoughts about makin’ you his wife.”
