Page 19 of Rogue of the Greenwood
“Well then, you absolutely should not marry him. Surely when you told your father how you feel, then—”
“But I couldn’t! That is just it—Papa did not even give me a chance. It is already arranged. He gave my assent for me and the banns will be read this Sunday in church. Mr. Reeve and I will be married in just more than a fortnight!”
The look of sorrow and pain on Meg’s face was impossible to deny. Clearly she was not simply suffering from missish nerves over this issue. She would be completely miserable if forced into this marriage! Marianne felt like an ogre for ever having wished it. Poor Meg. This was indeed a dreadful pickle.
“You simply must make your father understand,” she admonished. “Perhaps I should speak to him for you.”
“No! Oh please, Marianne. You cannot mention this. If he thought that I had told you… well, something terrible would happen.”
“Something terrible? What on earth can he do? I agree that a marriage to Mr. Reeve might be considered advantageous for your family, but surely your father will not force you into it.”
Meg was oddly silent. Marianne screwed her lips and thought the matter through.
“Does this have anything to do with the young man you used to fancy so much?” she asked after a moment.
The blush that stole over Meg’s cheeks confirmed that it did.
Marianne continued. “I thought you had given him up? Do you, in fact, still care for him?”
“I love him!” Meg admitted with trembling lips. “I tried to let go, as my parents ordered me, but… I simply cannot. Oh Marianne, please tell me I can trust you in this.”
“Of course, you can! I had no idea you felt so strongly about this young man. A miller, is he?”
Meg was still blushing furiously, but she smiled as she mentioned her fellow. “Perhaps you’ve seen him in town when we’ve run errands. He is George Muchleigh, but everyone calls him Much. His father owns the mill down on the river. They do a fine business and everyone speaks highly of it.”
“Ah, I do recall that we’ve stopped there to pick up flour for cook upon occasion. George Muchleigh is the young man you’ve been pining for all this time?”
“Yes, but we’ve had to keep our love a secret. Mamma and Papa are very much against it! They say George is no good for me, that I should find someone better.”
“Clearly you disagree.”
“There is no one better! He’s kind, and clever, and he treats me so nicely. I’ve tried to forget him as Papa has ordered, but I simply can’t.”
“No, I can see that. But surely a miller isn’t so very bad. You could likely do worse. Maybe your father will be convinced about him and—”
“No, he will never agree. In fact, he told me just now that if I do not marry Mr. Reeve, he will have charges brought against George, and his elderly father as well!”
“Charges? For what?”
“Who can say? Papa has many connections intown, and Mr. Reeve is the sheriff! If they want to, they can set up whatever charges they wish, and no doubt produce witnesses to say anything.”
Marianne was aghast. How could Meg make such dreadful accusations? Indeed, it was unfair that her father disapproved of her true love, but to make this claim against him was beyond the pale.
“Surely Uncle Prinley would never do such a thing!”
“You don’t know him like I do,” Meg said quietly. “He has plans to—”
They both froze when there was another knock at the door. Without waiting, Aunt Regina swung the door open and entered the room. Meg hid her eyes quickly and instantly Marianne realized she was smack in the center of high domestic drama. The tension between her aunt and cousin filled the room.
“Meg, what are you doing here?” Aunt Regina said sharply. “Your father told me you went to your room. I thought I would find you there.”
“I decided to visit with Marianne for a moment.”
“Marianne has other things to do. Shouldn’t you let her alone to take a rest?”
“If you say so, Mamma…”
Meg hung her head and seemed utterly defeated. It tore at Marianne’s heart to see her cousin so broken. Could Aunt Regina really be so cruel to force Meg into a marriage she obviously did not want? This was beyond awful.
