8 That's Him (1)

When A-Narah entered the hall, the guests were already there and seated. Her five other sisters were also lined up. Each one dressed in their best gown, with their heads bowed, not daring to look up at the men in the room.

In her head A-Narah felt like mocking them. They were hypocrites, but then almost every woman with any independent thought was. To be bold and daring would only lead to a beating if not by your father or brother, then by your husband, or even a male stranger of higher of equal status. Here, they were just well dressed slaves.

A-Narah wanted to look up to see the man she was supposed to marry, but didn't dare. She didn't even dare to speak to excuse herself for being late. She just politely curtsied to her father and then in the direction of the guests before lining up along with her sisters.

"All of your daughters are lovely," one of the guests said as he licked his fat lips. He sounded old and licentious to A-Narah. She hoped that he was one of the elders from the family and not her future father-in-law. She didn't know if she could bear to eat at the same table as such a disgusting man.

The man cleared his throat and looked away from the girls to face Lord Talley. In a more respectable voice he continued, "But my son insists on picking one he can live the rest of his life with. He is very liberal in his thinking, wanting to marry for love. He has agreed to marry a daughter of this house, but he says he won't chose based on status." The father sounded slightly aggrieved with his son.

No one could see A-Narah's hidden clenched fists. She had been informed that this man was already the person she would marry, but now he wanted to choose? Then did she get a choice? It was one thing if both parents decided for them. They were in the same boat, it was equal. But now, now he wanted to pick. It was unfair. She wouldn't even have the chance to turn him down. It was humiliating.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and focused on slowing her heartbeat. Showing anger and frustration would do more harm than good in this situation.

A-Narah's 'finance' would pick between the five sisters. Two of them were too young for marriage, they would not be picked unless he had perverted tendencies. That left Bina who was pretty like a small bird, but incredibly sly, and the foolish, quick tempered Seena who was jaw-droppingly beautiful.

A-Narah hadn't a clue who would be selected but her father definitely would have some pull in the final decision. To father, Bina was a smart and talented young lady who didn't fall far off from what an ideal legal daughter should be. But she pitted the sisters up against each other and would enjoy she had set up from a distance. The girl had countless tricks.

A-Narah had never been entrapped by her but it was all thanks to her own mother's teachings and guidance. Mother wasn't only favored because she was the legal wife, but because she could manage the household and all the other wives well.

Seena was often criticized and disciplined, but one look at her and a man could lose his heart and his head. She was truly breathtakingly beautiful, that is if she just stood still and never opened her mouth.

Really it all came down to how he would choose. Would he decide based on looks, talents, personality? What was it that he was looking for? A-Narah felt confident though. She had a natural superiority over her sisters.

"Lord Talley, may I say that all of your daughters are as beautiful as you have described previously, and I hope you don't find me rude in my request. I merely wish to find a wife who is agreeable and whom I can love and spend a happy life together. So, I know this breaks tradition, but I would like to speak with the ones of marriageable age. Of course, we will keep all of this strictly confidential so as to not hurt the reputation of the other unmarried ladies in the household." The man had a flowery tone and gave off the air of being educated.

Lord Talley smiled as it pleased, "I have agreed to this because I want my daughter's happiness too. As a father that is at the forefront of my heart's desires. And since we will be family, I of course trust your discretion."

A-Narah was confused but willing to except the current situation. She even had the quick thought that this fiancé of hers couldn't be that bad, and just his father sounded like a pig. She trusted her father's taste in selection of a husband.

Normally, the father she knew would never agree to something like this, but even mother was just standing off to the side, content with the proceedings. Mera hadn't warned her of anything on the way here, although she assumed unexpected might happen. But she still wondered why hadn't mother left a message for her?

As A-Narah thought this the men continued their discussion over the girls. Then their father called on them to step forward to greet the guests.