Luanne, now calmer took a deep breath and laid a hold of the door knob to the cottage.
With a turn it opened and she quickly rushed upstairs so she would be ready for the visitors that were supposed to be coming.
After a wash she wore a clean pale blue dress that fit her nicely -and modestly- as well as accentuated her hazel eyes unbeknownst to her.
Then she heard it -the chatter of multiple voices and the swing of a door shut. Her guess, they had arrived.
Quickly she looked at herself and walked downstairs with a bounce to her step. She was not excited to meet the visitors but she was happy because the Holy Spirit was with her.
Upon her arrival everyone present turned to look at her.
"Ah there's the beautiful Luanne. I have heard so much about you, it is such a pleasure to finally meet you. Allow me to introduce myself I am Mr Vanhasel." says a handsome aged man quite taller than her. He had slightly bent over to greet her out of courtesy and not according to station, for if it were so she should have been the one bending.
She then courtesies and rises with a gracious smile on her lips before she speaks. "It is a pleasure to meet you too Mr Vanhasel, I am Miss Luanne Walters."
He nods obviously aware of that tidbit of information. "Ah I see. Well, seeing as you already know your parents this is my son-" begins the older man as he steps aside to make room for his son, however his son takes over the introduction.
Standing before her he takes her hand and plants a soft kiss on it, his lips hovering over her hand ever so slightly for a split second before pulling away.
"Germaine Vanhasel, the man who has requested for your audience through his father."
Luanne almost fainted at the name. She blinked in surprise and quickly made an excuse so she could be seated without her parents noticing anything was amiss.
"Well then, do sit down so we can all know the reason for this audience Mr. Germaine, if the name is okay by you." Luanne said after.
He smiles knowingly and replies. "If you prefer it then it is alright by me Miss Walters. I must say though I am surprised, I had presumed you would have an idea as to why I have requested for this audience. Nonetheless I agree, let's get down to business shall we?"
The other parties agreed and they all took their seats, with Luanne directly opposite Germaine.
He smiled in her direction and she hastily looked away as though she found loose thread a more fascinating sight to behold.
Silence ensues in the room and visibly uncomfortable Luanne clears her throat.
Even after much throat clearing, the invisible lump lodged within her throat did not go away. So instead, to take her mind off her lump, she takes deep quiet breaths.
Germaine looks at his father and nods for him to go on. The aging man fixes a smile on his face that did nothing to ease the tension and began.
"I would like to request your daughter's hand on behalf of my son." Mr. Vanhasel says calmly.
Luanne's parents look at each other unsurprised -they had seen it coming.
Taking the opportunity of their silence he continued as if worried they would refuse and he was trying to convince them otherwise. This was surprising coming from a man so rich and esteemed in the society that many maidens would gladly throw themselves at his son with little hesitation, not Luanne though.
"He has expressed to me his great interest in her, and as long as I am able I will see to it that she receives the utmost care. I also have no doubt that Germaine will not fail to do the same and even more so, seeing as she is very dear to him. They are not strangers and have been acquaintances for a while according to my son. So you see the pair have very bright prospects. Not to mention she has no need to think about expenses with us for I'm sure you know we are very capable. So please do thoroughly consider our proposal." Mr. Vanhasel then finishes with a strained smile, given the unreadable expressions on the father and mother's faces.
Luanne however looks at Germaine's father incredulously, she had no intention of willfully marrying Germaine of all people.
To her he was selfish, rakish, inconsiderate-
She then stopped her mental listing of his attributes because she felt guilty, after all, what else did she expect of him? He was no believer, from what he had let slip a while ago when he still believed she was putty in his hands like every other girl he flirted with, so she couldn't hold him to the standard of a Godly man.
Germaine on the other hand wore a look that made him seem gentlemanly and though he may have had the necessary manners, in regards to his treatment of Luanne he clearly lacked some. The memory of his rough handling of her still plagued Luanne though she didn't want it to. For Luanne had already forgiven him and would gladly have forgotten the events that had transpired between them all at once.
Papa speaks and all eyes in the room turn to look at him, including Luanne who looks at him pleading with her eyes.
" I have taken note of all you said Mr. Vanhasel. However, I would like to hear what your son has to say."
A hidden look of fury flashes through Germaine's eyes as he takes notice of what Luanne was trying to tell her father with her eyes. Quickly he covers it up but she had seen the fury pass through his eyes before hid it.
Germaine still looking at her purposely gazes at her with so much affection she felt odd. Luanne was used to his proud, lustful and cold gazes but not this. And if she had not seen his previous looks she might have had trouble believing he didn't really care for her.
He then turned to her father having made it seem as though he was infatuated with her. Oh so he was putting on a show, she thought to herself.
" I have no long speech but this is what I have to say sir. I have been besotted with Luanne since the day I first met her and since that day it has been my desire to see the day that I can rightfully call her my wife. And I wish that you would give me permission to claim that right because I'm afraid that I am beginning to love her and each day what I feel for her only grows." Germaine says smoothly. His voice held some degree of sincerity and Luanne marveled utterly horrified.
Could someone lie so well? she thought.
Nevertheless lie or no lie, she was not in the least inclined to want to be his wife.
Her mother however, smiles at him and Luanne looks at him with accusation.
He smiles at back at her mother and when no one was looking at him but her, he mouths the words, 'You're mine'.
This unsettled Luanne and her stomach felt like it was sinking even further as dismay filled her inside.
However, her inner turmoil was temporarily halted by her father's next words.
"Very well son. We'll need some time, but once we have an answer for you we'll do our best to call on you by God's grace. "
The three men present in the room stand up to conclude the meeting and Luanne sits down observing the whole room dumbfounded. As they make their way out of the door breathing becomes more difficult than it had been for her mere seconds ago.
Her eyes search the room looking for a way to be calmed but they find their way to the last person's eyes she wanted to see in the very room she was in -Germaine.
She sees his cold green orbs staring at her hazel ones, and finally she loses it. Her head tips backwards and her whole body goes limp as she succumbs to the dots spotting her vision, accepting the darkness that enveloped her because it gave her an excuse to be out of his presence.