The Golden Society by Jacob Parker

Author:Jacob Parker [Parker, Jacob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Star Key Press
Published: 2023-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

32

ANABELLA

I stood in the grand study, my hands nervously clasped together as I prepared to confront my father. I had officially been summoned. I assumed I was in trouble for something. I wasn’t sure what I had done, but I had a feeling it had something to do with Samson.

He looked up from his desk, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. “Let’s take a walk,” he said.

I let out a sigh of relief. When we were out on one of our walks, he was just Dad. He wasn’t the King of England. He was my dad, and when he was only being my father, he was a very relaxed and understanding man. When he was acting as the king, he could be a little stuffy and authoritative.

We ended up at the fountain. We sat down and simply enjoyed the peace for a few minutes. “How are you?” he asked.

“Fine.”

“No, Anabella,” he said softly. “How are you? I know when something is wrong.”

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts, and spoke the words that had been swirling within me for far too long. “Why is it so important that I marry well? Why must I be bound by tradition and marry a man of status and wealth? Look at everything our family has. Why do we need more?”

His eyes softened, and he motioned for me to take a seat. “You must understand our family is not like any other. We are part of a secret society, one that upholds the old English society rules. Our marriages are not merely unions of love, but strategic alliances that ensure the preservation of power and wealth.”

A sense of disbelief washed over me as his words settled in. “That’s so archaic,” I countered, my voice filled with a mix of defiance and desperation. “What about love? What about choosing a partner based on compatibility and shared values? I understand why our ancestors had to do it, but we’re not at war with France or Spain or any other country. We don’t need alliances.”

He sighed heavily. “I understand your desire for love, but the path we walk is one of duty and responsibility. The Society demands sacrifices for the greater good. Marrying well ensures stability and the continued prosperity of our lineage. The Society was crafted to make sure families are protected.”

“Protected from what?” I asked.

“Can you imagine the number of men and women that are sought after specifically because of who they are? Their wealth and power? The Society is meant to protect the generational wealth, titles, and even lands from falling into the wrong hands. Love blinds people and that’s how that generational wealth is lost. We come up with these marriages to avoid anyone being taken advantage of.”

It made some sense. “You’re saying you don’t trust me to make a good decision?”

“No, no.” He shook his head. “It’s the way of things. I wanted to make a good match for you. I wanted you to be happy.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, a profound sadness gripping my heart.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.