Chapter 5

             As they all sat down to eat, Madra noticed that Lance’s face seemed to be a little drained of color.  She looked at him questioningly, but only got a shrug in return.  Deciding to leave it until after supper, Madra bowed her head while her father said the prayer.  All during supper, Lance was unusually quiet and she was sure that she saw him stealing frightened glances towards her father.  But then she thought that she must be imagining things because she couldn’t think of a reason why Lance would be scared of her father.

            After what seemed like hours, the whole family and Lance got up to go into the parlor.  Madra watched her father carefully to try and figure out what was going on between him and Lance.  She only saw him shooting stern glances her way.  Then, finally it dawned on her.  Her father knew about the party last night.  He’d found out that she was outside with Lance alone.  Genuine fear coursed through her veins.  Madra nervously waited to find out what her father was going to do about his newfound information.  Again, the minutes dragged by like hours.  She tried to catch Lance’s eyes, but he was keeping them riveted on the floor as if the wood slats held some great interest.  Finally, Madra’s father stepped to the front of the room and tapped his glass.

             “Could I have your attention.”  His voice was a command instead of a question.  And he waited to continue until his wife, children, and guest were looking at him.  “I have the joy to inform you all of Madra’s engagement to this fine young man attending dinner with us tonight.” 

            Madra felt the room start to spin and saw spots before her eyes.  Just as she was about to slip into unconsciousness, a strong pair of arms encircled her waist.  “That’s right Mrs. Carlson, Marianne, Elizabeth.  I have asked Mr. Carlson here for Madra’s hand in marriage and he has given his permission.”  She heard Lance’s voice and the quaver he was trying to hide.  His voice brought her back to reality as she realized what her father was doing.  He was trying to save her reputation.  But she was sure she would get a sound lecture later on.  For the moment, she sucked up her fear and trepidation and suffered through her mother’s quiet smile and her sisters’ tears.

             After about another hour, Lance was shown out and Madra didn’t even have a chance to speak with him about what was going on.  She wondered if he hated her for being forced into the situation, or if he was as unsure about things as she was.

 ~*~*~*~

            Lance stepped into the night air and breathed deep into his lungs.  His head was still spinning from everything that had occurred in the past 24 hours.  He’d met a woman that he was entranced by, lured her outside of a party after dark, and been found out by her father.  Now he was going to be forced to marry this girl that he knew nothing about.  He wasn’t really upset at the fact, because that’s the way marriages were often arranged in the South.  But he had wanted to get to know her more and ask for her hand of his own free will.  After that thought, Lance paused.  Had he really intended to marry her eventually?  He realized that thought had been in the back of his mind all along and decided to just make the best of the situation.

~*~*~*~

              Madra trudged up the stairs to her bedroom, knowing that her father would be up shortly to give her the lecture that she knew she deserved.  She’d gone out at night to meet a stranger unchaperoned.  She just hoped that no one from the party had been the one to divulge the information.  She prayed that it was just one of the slaves from the neighboring plantation making gossip with the slaves on theirs.  That happened all the time.  More often that not, the slaves were faster relaying news than anything else.  Again, she hoped that her father had taken care of the problem in a way that made sure it wouldn’t get any further.  She got undressed and into her nightgown quickly because she didn’t want to confront her father in her stiff dress and corset.  It was better to argue with him when she could breathe fully.  It wasn’t long until she heard his heavy footsteps in the hallway.  She waited until he knocked, then said, “Come in.”

              Mr. Carlson stepped into the room and turned up the lantern.  He wanted to be able to see his daughter when he was talking to her.  Deciding not to beat around the bush or waste any time, he came right out with it.  “What in the hell were you thinking Madra?”

              “Daddy, I…” 

            “I don’t want to hear any excuses young lady.  You were brought up better than to go galavanting around after dark with just anybody.  Didn’t your mother and I teach you anything?”  He demanded, not giving her a chance to speak.  “And you should know that your mother is heartbroken over this little incident.  She was only calmed by my assurance that your innocence was still intact even if your reputation is in danger of not being.”  His voice got louder with each word. “I am disappointed that you would disgrace your family in this way.”  He stared at his daughter waiting for her to offer protest, but she didn’t.  After another stern glare, he left the room.

              “What have I done?”  Madra said out loud to the empty room.  She was now engaged to be married to a man that she’d only known for a day.  Because of her foolish actions, she would never have the marriage that she dreamed of every night.  At that moment, she forgot how she felt about Lance from the minute she saw him.  All that she could see was that her father was forcing her to get married.  Right then and there she decided that she wouldn’t make this easy for anyone involved.  Especially Lance.  It was his fault for luring her outside at the barbeque and getting them in this mess.  She would be as difficult as she could be with the wedding arrangements and everything.  That decided, Madra got undressed and went to bed.