Seth's Delight - The Blessing

I couldn't help but cry the day I saw him walking up our steps, smiling a little smile that seemed to put fear in my heart. At the sight of him, I wanted to run into the cellar and never come out, but he was here and I had to behave like a lady and wait until he was finished conversing with my father. " Please don't let this be," I whispered, feeling the tremors run the length of my spine . Although I was supposed remain oblivious to what was being said behind the closed doors of the drawing room that my father and that man, Seth, sat in, I was a curious woman and this was regarding my future, so I found myself pressing my ear to the wall; I had to know. " You said you wanted my daughter's hand in marriage," I heard my father ask. " Yes. I want to marry your daughter. I've seen her at the college, for at least six full months. I speak to her every day, she smiles.

You know, your daughter is very beautiful. With hair like a new penny and dark, pretty eyes. Yes, I want really bad to marry her, sir. That is, if only you would give me your blessing and approval." I felt sick. I knew my father would fall for him, would make me marry him. He seemed so perfect, so willing to love me ; but I knew better. I knew better all too well. " Really, Seth? You know her from the college?" I could hear the enthusiasm in his voice and my trepidation was growing ever so fast. " Yes, but since then I've graduated. I'm taking over my father's steel company soon, I'll have the means to support Lydia and give her everything she has ever wanted, and perhaps ....more." I heard the resonating bass of my father's laughter, and knew that he had been sucked in. I pushed away from the wall and sunk down into the chair, running my tongue over the back of my teeth and narrowing my eyes as I always did when I was deep in thought. My future was ruined.

The door knob turned and out came my father and Seth. Father looked a great deal smaller standing next to the man who towered over at nearly six feet, five inches. His cold blue eyes roamed over my body and he gave me one of his predatory smiles, like he always did when I'd walked past at the school. The only thing he hadn't started were the lewd insult that he had always thrown my way, but I doubted he'd do that in front of father. He would wait until he left us alone, to speak. " Good news," Father began, " You are going to be married soon enough as you have always wanted!" I saw the reflection of green in his eyes and so much meaning behind them, but of course it was all greed. Nothing had ever motivated my Father, other than the promise of knowing that there was always something that benefited him. I didn't look up and Seth for a moment and I could tell Father was growing angry ; his small eyes were narrowed to dangerous slits. " Well, isn't it great news," he asked me impatiently.

I shook my head, unable to say anything. "What !?" I began to tremble under both their gazes and burst into tears. " Seth moved, but first he looked at my father who gave him permission and he wrapped his arms around me, bringing his mouth dangerously close to my ear. His breath was hot on my neck when he spoke. " No need to cry. I've got you now." My Father sighed and cracked his knuckles with a single move of his fingers. " Why are you crying?" I couldn't tell him how disappointed I was, but I wouldn't dare. I had been whipped too many times and I knew better. " Father, thank you . I'm so happy!" I hiccuped, throwing my arms around Seth's waist ; I couldn't reach his shoulders. My father smiled and left us alone in the hallway and went to my mother, who was sitting in her bedroom, knitting. " Elizabeth," I heard him say," we've a soon to be son- in- law!" My mother burst into tears, but for an entirely different reason.

Seth looked down at my and smiled, placing the palm of his hand flat on my cheek . " I'm glad you like me. You'll like me even more on our wedding night." I pushed him away and balled my fists at his laughter . It sounded so innocent, his laughter. I knew better than that. "You dog, you animal," I breathed. He looked down at me with the same sharp - toothed smile and sparkling eyes. " Don't say that to me, my dear. You know it is true. And, I don't think it would be in your best interests to disappoint 'Father'."

"Oh Maxwell, I thought this day would never come! A fine young man with a business? Oh, we've been blessed!" My mother was more energetic than I can remember. My mother, Elizabeth, was a plump woman in her early forties, with the copper hair and dazzling green eyes. She was still beautiful without a wrinkle on her face and all her clothes where tailor made by the finest Italian dressmakers. With her, reds and vibrant hues of green were all the rage and most of the women who could only afford the dark scraps of fabric they stole from the factories they worked out, looked at her with glorious envy. She was also a snobbish woman who looked down upon anyone who wasn't a socialite. She hated the poor social- climbers and absolutely adored those born into wealth and Seth was just that. It sickened me to think about it . So I ran to her instead. "Oh, Mother," I said, wrapping my arms about her thick waist, breathing in her scent of lavender.

She smiled to me and held me close. "I'll expect grandchildren, as you know." I let my smile falter for a moment but didn't let up on the lie. True, I was afraid, but I wasn't going to show it. Seth laughed. "Yes Mrs. Morrow ! We will give you as many grandchildren as you like, ."I shuddered at the thought of him inside of me, touching my with his dirty hands, thinking of me with his filthy mind. I straightened. " Well, I should be going," Seth said lightly, giving Mother and Father a small nod. They both looked to me to walk him out. I didn't smile once my back was turned to them, instead, I looked right into Seth's cold blue eyes. He raised a knowing brow and he grabbed my hand and led me out into the cold, November air. "Lydia," he said, walking me down the steps of the large, New York home.

His boots crunched over colorful leaves and his breath made little puffs of white smoke in the air as he exhaled swiftly and dragged in another breath. "What?" I asked. A crooked smile dragged the corner of his full lips up. "I love you." Abruptly, he grabbed me about the waist, crushing his mouth against my own, leaning. His tongue went down my neck, leaving a sticky trail or his saliva on my skin. "Stop!" I yelled, pushing him away. He smiled and stepped back . "Ah, Lydia, don't be afraid of me. After all, I do love you. More than you know." He kept the stupid grin on his face,and opened his door to the automobile and stepped in shutting it behind him. " Have a good day, my sweet!" he yelled out the window as drove away. I turned back to the window, and saw my mother's smiling green eyes peeking through the white curtains ; a pale hand was beckoning me inside. "Oh, I saw you out there, acting so inappropriately !"

"Mother, I-"
" Oh what a charming young man he is! Rich and well built with a handsome young face and a fortune! A FORTUNE! Imagine your lavish life-"
"But-"
" I think you've been learning a little more than you should be at the college my dear." I looked at my mother who smiled mischievously at me. In my life, I had never heard her speak in that way, about any man. Not even my father.