Geneva took in her son’s expression and smirked. She knew she had him firmly where they needed him, and she had no worries at all. Yes, she had planned to let Brad choose his own marriage partner, but it wasn’t like she wasn’t doing that, was she? She was only providing him with minimal guidance, nothing more.
"Carmichaels?"
Brad whispered, stamped, then shook his head as if he could not believe the implication of that. How could he? The coincidence was too much!
"Yes," Geneva nodded, then turned to the surprised Fanny.
"How- I an -"
"Don’t worry about that. The fact that you’re using your middle na and your mother’s last na does not an that we do not know who you really are. We know now exactly whom we employ here, and we also respect your privacy on that."
Fanny lowered her head and smiled. A sad kind of smile that was representative of the fact that she had forgotten how her circles moved.
"Wait! Is it really that Carmichaels?"
No one paid heed to Brad, as all eyes were on Alicia. At this ti, Alicia’s response was more important than Brad’s dilemma.
"I -"
Alicia really did not know what to say. She was flattered to be considered by the all-great Thornston family as a potential daughter-in-law, but at the sa ti, this was all too sudden and unconventional. The man in question was not the one proposing the marriage, but his family was?
’Get a hang of yourself, Alicia! You know that is how rich family arrangents are. Besides, didn’t your Dad try to match you up with a stranger? What’s the difference with this situation... and once the family is on your side, you do know that you’ll never be treated badly!’
Alicia’s thoughts were chaotic, and then a crucial thing popped right into the middle of these thoughts,
’Dad said that I had two months to bring a groom ho... with my current schedule, there is no way I am going to et soone new and fall in love, so that leaves arranged etings, and of such etings, I think this is best!’
"I- "
Alicia started, but Brad was still hung up over her last na and looking for clarity for that, though the answer was glaring.
’Was this the sa woman that Carmichaels has been trying to link up with? That can’t be right? But he is the only Carmichaels on this island as far as I know, and he only has one daughter! Jeez! How could I have missed this?’
Alicia paused, swallowing her words as sothing else made her enlightened.
’Did master Brad and I fall into a trap made by his family? Besides, what are the odds that a powerful family like this would leave their daughter-in-law to chance?’
She asked and then answered the question herself, ’NONE!’
Ian raised an eyebrow at her deduction and nodded, because with such reasoning skills, it seed like their family had made a good bargain.
Alicia was right at this thought, but maybe she, as well as Brad, may never co to know of this fact.
***
The night before ....
The last remnants of the late-night sun filtered softly through the lace curtains of the drawing room in Alex and Geneva’s chambers. Geneva, regal in poise and calm in deanour, sat on the edge of a vintage armchair with a delicate porcelain teacup untouched in her hand. Her expression was thoughtful but resolved.
"Are you feeling better, my dear?"
"Haha, do you think that I am a lovestruck teenager at this stage in my life? Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine."
"But-"
"Alex, dear. I take comfort in the fact that Roman did not abandon , but gave the chance to spend my life with you. Don’t ever think that you are a replacent. I enjoyed the ti we shared together and the son that we made... but for now, I am only thinking of that son’s marriage and nothing else!"
For a mont, Alex was taken aback at Geneva’s statent, and then he burst out laughing, "Hahahahaahaha!"
Alex was touched beyond words, for this was one of the only tis that he knew that Geneva would let go and say such words to him. His heart swelled.
"Ok, I’ll leave you to it!"
She picked up a picture from her table and then smiled. Then she picked up the old-fashioned landline phone beside her, which was rarely used, and dialled a number she hadn’t used in years. On the second ring, a familiar voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Carmichaels? This is Geneva Thornston. I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad ti."
There was a brief pause. Then a gentle, surprised chuckle ca through the line.
"Not at all, Madam Geneva. It’s been so long. To what do I owe the honour at this ti?"
Geneva drew in a slow breath. "I’ll co to the point. My family, or rather, I have taken an interest in your daughter."
"Tell about it...." Carmichaels cordial voice asked, and Geneva continued,
"Fanny has been with us for so ti now, and in that ti, the children have grown rather fond of her, and I like her manner, her dedication, and her quiet strength."
There was silence on the other end.
"So, that’s where she has been? You are her new post?! This rascal refused to tell where her new station was! I don’t know why she insists on working through that agency, and why is she even using her middle na?!"
"Hahahahahaa... Take heart," Geneva added, "These young ones have their way of doing things nowadays which does not seem logical to us, but it does to them," she continued, her tone warm but asured. "And now, I would like to speak with you, parent to parent, to ask for your thoughts on sothing... more permanent. We would like to consider her for marriage into our family formally."
There was a sharp inhale, but Carmichaels was brimming with a smile from ear to ear, and trying hard to keep it out of his voice. His wish was coming true, and he did not even have to put in an effort!
"Marriage?" he echoed, sounding sothing along the lines of disbelief and curiosity. "Forgive , but... to whom exactly?" It was a ridiculous question as only Brad was left, but Carmichaels wanted to be double sure it was what he thought it was.
There was a pause, then Geneva smiled faintly, her voice dipping into fond mischief.
"To my son. The second one. Brad doesn’t know yet, of course. But we are serious."
The silence that followed was heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts. Though Carmichaels liked it, he still did not want to rush to accept it.
"...I... see," he finally said. "May I ask... why her?"
"Fanny has carried herself with grace in the shadows. But we’ve seen her. And in our world, that kind of quiet integrity is priceless. She wouldn’t just be a good wife. She would be a good family and, most importantly, a good mother."
"...I’m speechless."
"There’s no rush. I will be arranging a proper visit. And of course, we will ask her permission too. But I thought it only right that you hear it from first."
A small laugh, touched with emotion, ca through the line.
"You honour my family, Madam Geneva. I... don’t know what to say."
"Then say nothing for now. Just... consider it."
Mr. Carmichaels cleared his throat at the offer. There was sothing hesitant in his voice as he replied, "Madam... I must be honest. I once offered my daughter to Brad myself. But he... he rejected the idea."
Geneva chuckled softly, a knowing glint in her eyes even though they were on the phone.
"I would have been surprised if Brad had accepted it, given what has been going on nowadays, but don’t worry," she said with calm assurance. "Leave it to us. Once the families are aligned, we’ll handle the rest. My son, Brad... he has his moods, but we know how to persuade him."
And Geneva added this bit to herself, ’I don’t think he’ll need much persuasion on this though....’ Then she smiled at an inside joke.
There was a pause, and then Mr. Carmichaels laughed, this ti with more confidence.
"Of course. I would never turn down the chance to be in-laws with the great Thornston family. With in-laws like you, including Ian and Shelby, I know that my daughter will be in the best of hands.... And her mother would be proud of the choice."
"Good," Geneva said firmly, a smile in her voice. "Now, all you need to do is keep her in the dark for a bit longer. No pressure, no hints—just let everything happen naturally. We don’t want her retreating out of modesty."
"I understand," he said. "You can count on ."
"And don’t worry," she added, "when the ti cos, the stars will align in her favour. I’ll make sure of it."
"Is ... is the whole family on board with this?"
This question had Geneva chuckling and Carmichaels blushing at his end.
"I’m sorry for asking that, Madam Geneva, but I only have this daughter and never had the experience of trying to marry her off."
"Don’t worry, Carmichaels, what Geneva says is the rule in the house!" Alex said from the background, and that had all three adults laughing their heads off.
"Good to hear from you, old friend,"
"Now, this is all I need you to do...."
Geneva outlined her plans to Carmichaels, and he was impressed, taking the part that he had to play very seriously.
The call ended with formal pleasantries, but both sides knew: the match was as good as sealed.
Now... all that was left was to stage the mont that would tip fate in their direction. This was where Geneva needed a prominent person, so taking her cell phone this ti, she dialled the number...
___
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