She had her best dress on for the occasion. A low-cut, red dress of silk and a matching corset that left little to the imagination. Her fair blonde hair was pinned back from her face, delicate curls framing it, while the rest fell in soft ringlets down her back. She was here, and here she would stay. She'd walked through those terrifying gates with her head held high, golden eyes burning with determination and pride for her family name. This was her fate, as the heiress to her father's riches and as her mother's only daughter. It had been decided for her since birth, and she would fulfill the duty that came with the Dellrouse name.

Jaqueline had been taught since birth, that as the daughter of an elite family, she must marry into an elite family. She thought nothing of it as a child, living the sheltered life of a girl raised by men. Her mother had died when she was only 2, killed by a disease that had swiped the nation. The young girl held the few memories she had very dearly and kept a pendant holding a photo of her mother and herself when she was but an infant around her neck at all times. Presently, she felt closer to her mother than ever for she was sharing the same fate as her. At the tender age of 16, like Jaqueline herself, her mother married into the Dellrouse family not knowing what to expect. Of course, it was a political marriage, not one of love. But love came after only a short time, as did the first heir.

Ten years, and 5 sons and a daughter later, her father lost the love of his life, the mother of his children, to a terrible fate. He never quite smiled with his eyes again after that horrible time, and Jaqueline would never get the chance to witness the love her brothers spoke of so passionately. Oh, how she wished she could have seem the two of them together. How she longed for the chance to truly know her mother. But for the young girl, memories and fond stories were enough. And now, it was her turn to carry on the name, just as her brothers before her.

"My dear child, please do not look so dreadful." A softly aged voice echoed through the large sitting room. Jaqueline hurried to comply, giving the woman a warm smile. "That's much better, you are far too young to bare such a troubled expression." She soothed, taking the girl eagerly into her welcoming arms. Jaqueline found great comfort in this; this woman was the closest thing she'd had to a mother growing up, and in a short time they would be mother and daughter by law. Though she was stubbornly persistent with the belief that this marriage was her duty, nothing more or less, in the back of her mind she was overjoyed to be getting this woman's affection in return.

"My son will be down in just a moment." She told Jaqueline, taking the younger's hands and leading her to sit next to her on an elegant sofa. Though she could not clear her mind of the nonsense that had been plaguing her dreams and giving her sleepless nights, she could bare with it all for her mother-to-be. A shy smile swept across her lips while the two of them conversed, the male in question having slipped into the room without their knowledge and watched the display for a few silent moment before clearing his throat.

{ I'm still kind of wondering where this idea will go, but I just had to post it. I'm looking for a male who is a complete gentleman in public, but rather obnoxious and demanding to his wife-to-be. Anything could happen with this, so jump right on in and feel free to share ideas with me! I love a good twist! }