Read Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall for Free Online

such a scandalous promise.  
    We had been invited to the Jackson’s on
several occasions for full–moon balls, where I had been introduced to many
young and eligible men. John had asked me if I would consider marrying any of
them, and I had been shocked at his suggestion. I found it hard to understand
how adamant he was about obeying social conventions and his mother’s wishes,
yet how easily he found a way of breaking the rules and getting his own way, at
the same time.
    I sighed as I opened the next letter.
    My Dearest Annette,
     Today I am feeling depressed.
Mother has written informing me that she has been to London and visited Judge Harwood.
My mother and the judge would be most pleased if I should court Phoebe,
Elizabeth’s younger sister. I would not court anyone except you, my love, and
especially not Phoebe who is too young, too fickle, and too vulgar by far to
ever be my wife, and far less mistress of Eyre Hall. When I politely explained
my position, Mother replied that Phoebe was only seventeen, so there would be a
long engagement, and we would have enough time to polish her into a suitable
wife.
    I love my mother dearly, but
sometimes I do not understand her at all, especially since Father died and her
illness, she seems to have lost all feelings of love or tenderness. Life has
become a commercial transaction, and we are all her pawns. I wonder if Mr.
Briggs’s son–in–law and new associate, Mr. Smythe, has anything to do with this
new madness. He does seem to be a rather shrewd businessman.
    I had never met Elizabeth, and I did not
know Phoebe, but it seemed that the marriage had indeed been arranged, and that
there was little John could do about it, except go against his mother’s wishes,
and I was convinced that was something he would never do. I wished Jane would
stop organising all our lives without taking heed of our feelings. I understood
that she meant well, but she was too manipulative, and too concerned with the
opinions of others instead of the feelings of those she loved, including her
own.  
    I unfolded the next letter.
    My Dearest Annette,
    Mother has written to me about her
wedding. She told me you were kind enough to stand by her side throughout the
preparations and ceremony. Once more, I have no understanding as to why she
should wish to marry your uncle, but it pleases me that it keeps us closer
together. She has told me it is a marriage of convenience, and I dare not ask
her, but I cannot fathom what her convenience could be in marrying him. In any
case, it will not affect my position as sole heir to the Rochester estate.
    It pleases me that mother is
growing fond of you; I must remind you that this was not the case at first. You
must understand that your presence reminded her of your aunt, my father’s first
unfortunate wife, and this distressed her greatly, but as you have seen, she is
a forgiving and loving person.
    I wanted to attend the wedding,
just to see you again, but Mother insisted I should not be present. She wanted
a quiet, almost secret wedding. I would have loved to see you again, kiss your
eager lips and squeeze your slim waist. I will try to wait until you are ready,
but I warn you, I am not a patient man, and I am so in love with you, that the
next time we meet, I may not be so understanding. You haunt me and you will be
mine, Annette, because you already are mine.
    I beg you to consider my petition.
I am in agony. I assure you I cannot wait much longer.
    I closed the letter, wondering if I
would ever be safe again, alone with John. He was very bold and demanding, and
I was in love. It would be hard to resist his advances, so I had to make sure I
would not be alone with him, although that, too, would be difficult as none of
the others had arrived yet. My uncle was due in the next few days as were Adele,
Mr. Greenwood, and Dante.
    I opened the last letter.
    My Dearest Annette,        
    I am distraught today. Adele has
written to tell me that she will be