CHAPTER 2:

SIX DAYS EARLIER....

" Darn, where is that blasted girl ? she better come down to breakfast right now!". Mr Nicholas yelled loudly in exasperation.' Ding ding ding ding 'The door bell rang, its shrill cry ringing throughout the house .

'The person who is ringing is very persistent' Nicholas thought inwardly. He was surprised because he wasn't expecting anyone to visit him as early as 10a.m in the morning. He reluctantly opened the door and he came face to face with someone familiar.it was Mrs Shilbery.The neighbourhood gossip.

He called his wife's name with a indifferent tone .He just didn't have time for women antics and gossip. He retired upstairs leaving his wife and the new visitor in the guest room while he went to his master bedroom.

Joan invited Mrs Shilbery in the sitting room and they both sat down opposite each other on the huge embroidered couch. They talked random things- their naughty kids, aristocrat husbands, the latest shoes,bags clothes in the market and of course the hot new gist about the other neighbors and elite in their class .

Mrs Shilberry shifted uneasily in her seat as she tried to find an avenue to discuss the real purpose why she was here.Joan notice this but cringed and so there was a tensed moment of silence.Then Mrs shilbery broke the ice after a period of an uneasy silence. "Joan honey,? do you know the Thornes?" Her guest spike in a sweet but equally devious tone.

" Of course I do!." her host exclaimed. "They are the most prestigious couple in town!" she continued jocularly.

Mrs Shilberry smiled and drew closer to Joan.She had just be provided that avenue ." I heard a rumor but you didn't hear it from me?" she said in a conspiratorial whisper

"because I don't like gossips"

Mrs Joan smile mischievously and, crossed her heart and said "I know".

"I heard that the prestigious Robert Thorne is looking for a wife for his son and..." Mrs shilbery hesitated,.

" And what?" Joan said, eager for her visitor to finish her sentence. she urged Mr Shilbery to continue, her itching ears waiting to hear the news . Mrs Shilbery continued " I heard he is interested in your daughter but ..... "

"But what?" she held her breath in anticipation as the gossip spoke on.

"He doesn't know you and your daughter that well enough..". Mrs Shilbery said as she scratched her head in thought "but you could have your daughter meet his son since his son attends cotillion classes. If you know what I mean?" She smiled with a suggestive raise of her eyebrows.Joan nodded yes."Well ,I have to leave now,Bid Nicholas and that beautiful daughter bye for me.I have to go before Richard get annoyed .You know how men are?" Mrs Shilbery concluded.

"Yes and thank you Marilyn" said Joan joyfully. She let her visitor out of the house happily, her heart leaping for joy.The marriage would elevate their status and their lives would change forever .But how to get that strong-headed daughter of hers to play along...

Joan ran gleefully all the way to her husband's bedroom and told him about what she and Mrs Shilbery had discussed recently .

" This is good news for our family!."She screamed as she sat besides her husband on their king sized bed but He responded with a rather grim look on his face that confused Joan. " Aren't you happy with the new development?" asked Joan with her burrowed brow in puzzlement. Her smile was slowly waning to that of a frown

"of course I am "Nicholas said with a forced smile "but I wonder how Sue would take it ?" He replied grimly.

"Uh,oh. Two parents are never a good sign" Sue whispered quietly to herself as her parents entered the pink well-decorated room with a weird look on their faces.

Definitely bad news.

Only her father had a grim look. Her mother had a smug smile spread across her face.

Her parents sat by her side on the soft bed. Her father was ready to deliver the news. She was to quit Spchool and take cotillion classes. Just like that.she gasped .

"Dad,Mum,why?"she cried out .

Her mother smirked or so Sue thought she did .

"We have our reasons , Sue" Joan said to her daughter.

"I'm not going Mother"Sue responded adamantly.

" You have to and you are going to"her mother said quite firmly .

"I would rather go to school naked than go to a stupid cotillion class"

"Susanne Hannah Dearbon, when l tell you to do something you will do it right away!"her mother harumphed as she stamped her foot on the terazzo floor. . Her mother hardly called her by her full name. It was always Sue

"Things must be 'that' serious" she chuckle inwardly.

"I will not" Sue replied in a slightly mocking tone.

"Stop it!" Mr Nicholas yelled all of a sudden to the bickering females.

Silence reigned.

"Let me make you a deal Sue"her father said sighing as he rubbed the bridge of his nose - a behavior he has learned to become accustomed to over the years. Sue waited patiently for what deal her father was about to make with her.

" You will go to school with the condition of also attending cotillion classes"

His daughter's eyes widened in delight . Her father could sense it. This warmed his old heart.

" Thank you Father. I love you so much." She said as she gave him a soft peck on the cheeks as a sign of appreciation but not without giving her mother a blatant flat , mocking look.. Nicholas smiled as she ran out of the room, rejoicing as she sneered at her fuming mom. Her mother hissed but she was too happy to notice.

She was so happy but little did she know that her life might have just taken a turn for the worse....