Read Angelmonster for Free Online Page A

leave of my senses.
    “Is that truly what you believe?” my father asked. He was staring at me without blinking. “Does it not occur to you that you are the
second
young lady, barely out of childhood, whom this man has pursued? What induces you to think that
you
will fare any better than poor Harriet?”
    I was ready with my answer. “Because he loves me and not her!”
    “And do you not think he loved her when they eloped?”
    Frustration is ugly in a girl of sixteen. I clenched my fists, and my face grew heated. “But he had not met
me
then!” I cried. “If he had, he would never have considered Harriet. Why do you not understand that I love and trust him?”
    I looked imploringly at Papa. “Did you never love my mama enough to trust her? Do you not want me to be happy?”
    Throughout this outburst my father had watched me, his expression saddening. When I was silent, and had begun to cry, he took my hand.
    “Mary, my dear, I
do
want you to be happy. But Shelley is not the man to give you the happiness I would wish for. He is not honourable – no, do not protest. We none of us know everything about him. He tells us only what he wants to. He is wealthy but uses his money in a profligate manner. Do you honestly wish to attach yourself to this man?”
    I did not hesitate. “Yes, sir, I do.”
    As I sat there in the drawing-room with my small hand enveloped by my father’s large one, the rebellion which had long been stirring inside me surfaced. There was no escaping the truth that Shelley
had
eloped with a willing sixteen-year-old. But now he had another willing sixteen-year-old to elope with. Indeed, he had two. We could not leave Jane, our little accomplice, to face my parents’ wrath alone.
    My father rose abruptly, and was about to quit the room when Jane opened the door without knocking. She had been crying. In her hand was a letter. She seized my hand and thrust the letter into it.
    “He is waiting in the shop! Quick, read this and go to him. Quick, quick!”
    “Why are you crying?” I asked her, mystified.
    Mama was hurrying towards me. “Give me that letter!” she demanded. “I suppose he thinks himself very clever, to have got in by the shop door!”
    Jane stood between me and her mother. “I cannot imagine it needed much ingenuity to enter a shop during trading hours, Mama,” she said.
    “Insolence!” She tried to get past, but Jane barred her way. I unfolded the letter.
    Dearest
,
    Have no fear of what your parents say they will do. We shall still be together, I promise you. Jane shall bring your letters to me, and mine to you. She is a dear girl. Please forgive me for causing you all this distress. I did not know I would fall in love with you so hopelessly, and by the time I had, I was far beyond being able to let you go. Please, please write
.
    Your true love, Shelley
    At the same moment that Mama at last succeeded in twisting the letter out of my grasp, we heard footsteps climbing the uncarpeted stairs from the shop. Jane yelped in dismay, but I was filled suddenly with the strength which passion bestows. I threw open the drawing-room door, neither caring what my parents saw nor what they thought of it.
    Shelley was standing in the hall with one hand holding his hat and the other on the back of his neck. The sight of this familiar gesture filled my heart, and I ran into his embrace as if I belonged there. I
did
belong there. I held him tightly, speaking close to his ear. “What will you do? Will you take me far away, to France, or farther? Do you know that Jane speaks perfect French? Please, please let us go away from here!”
    He released me. Mama shouted for him to quit the house. But he strode into the drawing-room and faced her and my father without fear.
    “Madam, be quiet, if you please,” he instructed. “I wish to bid farewell to my future wife in peace. Yes, by God, I
will
marry Mary!”
    Mama was shocked into silence. Jane, who was still half-crying, put her hand over her