THE HEART IS GOLD
Chapter One
"That one should go over
here, John," Celeste Callister told her fiancé. She shifted her eyes from
her mother to him, glaring to herself. Her mother had set her up for an
arranged marriage with John, all because he was rich. He seemed to love her,
but she could never to sure about this man who looked quite catty, almost like
he was up to some evil and enticing plan.
"Oh, dear, why must you have
these despicable finger paintings with you all the time?" John asked her,
giving her a glance that she saw as a critical look.
She turned her head from him.
"You have no interest in art. So, stop criticizing me about it!" she
shot back coldly. She looked down at the rich red carpet covering the floor of
the inn in which they would be residing for a little while to make a few
wedding plans. "Get away from me," she muttered under her breath
angrily, "forever." She looked down at her long, ruffled blue dress.
Why did ladies always have to wear dresses? It wasn’t quite fair.
"Young lady, you will
respect John," her mother, Carrie Callister, told her very firmly.
"Yes, ma’am." She
peeked out of the window. The sky outside held sunshine. She longed to get out
of there. See if I respect him, she thought angrily. She did not like
him that much at all. He was worthless to her. She flung her long, curly blonde
hair over her shoulder. She had not bothered pinning it. She walked to the door
and opened it, attempting to leave her suite for a little while.
"Celeste! Where do you think
you’re going?" John asked, a demanding look on his face.
"See if I tell you."
She turned coldly, walking off. But John caught her tightly by the arm as she
tried to free herself from his grasp.
"Oh, yes, my dear, we will
see. You will stay here, under my supervision." His eyes held anger in
them, and she did not like it.
"I am not yours to control,
John. I’m your fiancée." Her eyes held coldness, not love. She finally
freed herself from his grasp, and, without a word, escaped outside. The air was
cool. It was the beginning of April, and spring had finally begun. Flowers were
blooming in perfect lines along the streets, which were bustling with people.
She decided to go and look around in some shops. The scent of bakeries filled
the air with their fragrance. She spotted a store that looked to have many odd
and ends. She walked inside and saw many different kinds of perfume on one
shelf, and fabrics on another. She saw wooden toys for children and dresses of
every size, shape, and color. She read the sign. Ella’s Dry Goods. She
guessed that it must be a shop for dresses. She looked around at the hats with
tall feathers, and at the ruffled dresses and the ones decorated with sparkling
beads. Now, of course, she was very rich, so she had dresses like these, if not
prettier. She gave a small smile to the store clerk at the front desk.
"Hello, miss," the lady
began. "May I help you?" Her voice was warm and kind, and she seemed
friendly enough.
"No, thank you. I am just
looking around…" Her voice trailed off as she continued browsing. She saw
little beaded purses and other things. She walked out of the shop and wandered
around the town. Hmm, she thought. I wonder what else is here.
She watched as people of every sort walked the streets on this nice, sunny day.
She moved out of the way as a carriage with two handsome chestnut stallions
pulling it came through. She sighed. Her whole life was under the thumb of
John. She came across a small but elegant bakery. She walked in and ordered a
croissant from the baker. There were many delicious-looking choices, but she
wanted the croissant now. She said thank you and walked out, finishing the last
of it. She decided that she had better start heading back to the hotel before
John came looking for her. It would not be very good if he came looking for
her. She gave a deep sigh and headed to Rena Lane, where it was located. The
tall building was quite elegant, really made only for the richer people. She
opened the door to the lobby and gave a small smile at the doorman. She walked
up to her room, fearing what was on the other side of the door.
"Where have you been?"
John greeted her, giving her a look of disapproval. Anger shone in his harsh
brown eyes. She realized that her mother was not there, and she feared what he
might do to her.
"I went for a walk,"
she said simply, glaring at him through her glassy blue eyes. She studied her
large room, decorated with many beautiful pictures. It was practically a house
in itself.
"You should have been back
sooner, Celeste." His words were harsh and piercing. "It’s almost
time for dinner. Your mother should be back quite soon," he explained to
her. She did not like how he was looking at her. "You will wear this
dress," he said, holding up a pretty green dress, decorated with white
beads and long ruffles. But it was not what she was planning to wear. How could
he just control her like this?
She shifted her eyes.
"Actually, I was thinking of wearing the red one instead," she
argued. She liked red better than green.
"Listen to me,
Celeste!" he yelled. "You will do as I say!" He struck fear into
her heart then. She saw him reach up, about to slap her.
Oh, no. You will not, she thought, but relief swept over her as
her mother walked into the room. He lowered his hand.
"Excuse me," her mother
began. "What is going on here?" She looked from Celeste to John.
Oh, I will tell you, Mother, she thought. But just as she opened her
mouth to speak, John spoke rudely.
"Nothing, Madame. We were
just having some simple conversation. Right, Celeste?" He appeared
innocent to her mother, which angered her greatly. But she feared what he would
do to her if she told the truth to her mother.
"Yes…" she agreed
timidly, shifting her eyes from place to place.
"It’s dinner time now,"
John told them, hurrying them towards the door. Relief filled her. He was a
horror to her. Why had her mother picked him, of all men? Why could she not
have let her choose her husband?
"All right…" She let
out her breath. She realized that she had been holding it for a minute or more.
Her heart was beating fast. She walked down the hallway, following behind them
as they headed towards the dining room. She studied the red walls with gold
trim. It was quite elegant, though the place seemed dreadful because John’s presence
walked the halls of it.
"Sit here," John told
her, seating her in a softly cushioned chair at a cherrywood table. The table
was set with beautiful china dishes and a nice white tablecloth.
"All right…fine," she
affirmed to him, making a small face of dread. She knew exactly what the
conversation was about. Wedding plans.
"Now, we need to decided
what color dress you’d prefer, Celeste," her mother spoke to her. Before
Celeste could answer, some of her mother’s lady friends sat down at the table
with them. "Hello, ladies," her mother greeted them.
"Hello, Carrie. Ah…yes, she
shall soon be a newlywed," a lady answered.
Celeste scowled.
"Yes. John shall be a good
husband for her." Her mother looked at her, as if Celeste was supposed to
speak now. But as she opened her mouth, John interrupted her.
"I think ivory would be
lovely, and for the bridesmaids, purple should be nice," John said.
"Actually, ivory is nice.
But I like red better than purple for the bridesmaids!" Celeste shot back,
her eyes full of anger.
"Celeste!" he shot back
at her. "I think we need to talk. Now! Please excuse us, Carrie," he
said, pulling her up. She tried to free herself from his grasp, but failed in
the attempt.
"You will not talk like that
to me. Do you understand?" he asked her firmly, his eyes showing sheer
rage.
"All right…" she
answered timidly, her eyes filling with tears. They walked back to the table
and ate in silence.
*****
She lay in bed that night,
thinking of how horrible her life was going to be when she married him. He had
already tried to abuse her a number of times. Plus, he controlled her, and it
was not fair. What she needed was a way out, a way to be free from this pain. Now…I
could always run away…but that could also have its bad consequences, too…oh,
well. I am sure I will get free somehow, she thought sadly to herself, and
then she cried herself to sleep, hoping and praying that some way would come.