I wasn’t sure how to feel, but I was almost certain it should involve more elation. I had gone to the hotel under false pretenses, with every intention of marrying a man while making him think I was wealthy. I was in the wrong, yet when I exited the room, ironically, I felt used. I didn’t know what I thought would come out of this, but maybe this was better. If he came too close—wanted to get to know me better—he would discover I was nothing like the girl on the profile.

“Who did he choose?” one thin blonde girl asked a row of confused faces.

“Is it you, Davina?” another of the lot asked.

I looked straight ahead as I made a beeline through the gathering crowd. I hoped no one would ask me anything because I wouldn’t want to tell them he had chosen me. They hadn’t approved of me before, and they were right in doing so. I wasn’t a part of their circle, and I wasn’t sure how long I could fake it.

I hurried down the hallway that seemed twice the length I’d traveled before, hot tears stinging the corners of my eyes as I fled the scene like an escaped convict. I was hyperventilating by the time I got outside, and I clutched my tightening chest. I felt like the noose that had been tightening around my neck had snapped and I could breathe again. I gasped for air and looked around frantically for any means of escape. I seized it in the nearest cab and felt the pressure lift as the car merged with the afternoon traffic and the hotel grew smaller in the distance.

I relaxed against the worn, cracking leather seat of the cab, feeling more comfortable than I had been in the five-star hotel. The luxurious accommodation was lost in my anxiety and trepidation over my current predicament. I was about to become a bride to a man who didn’t care to love me.

My legs were heavy when I got out of the cab at the Sampson estate. Henrietta must have been waiting for me, because she met me at the door with wild-eyed wonder.

“So, how did it go?” she asked excitedly.

“He chose me,” I replied and edged past her.

She grabbed my hand and stopped me from going any further. “Then why the long face?”

Her eyes searched mine, but I felt numb. “Because, who am I kidding? I can’t do this.” I already felt the weight of it crushing me, and my legs began to wobble. I slipped hastily out of the shoes and remembered I needed to change before her mother saw me wearing her clothes. “I need to change now.”

“It’s all right,” she said and pulled me to her room. “They aren’t here.”

I stumbled along behind her until we were in her safe haven, the one place in the house I didn’t feel like I was under anyone’s scrutiny and where I was equal to Henrietta. Although that was purely imaginary—she was my better in every way. She could have pulled this off. Not me.

Henrietta pulled me down onto the bed next to her, her eyes curious for the entire story. “You do realize you can’t back out now, right?” she said almost timidly, like she was gauging my reaction.

“I don’t see how I can do this,” I replied. I felt flushed as the heat traveled through my body and warmed my face. I was nervous and anxious and had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what I was getting myself into. “He will know what I am the moment I set foot in his house. I don’t even want to think about what will happen—”

“Listen to me!” Henrietta said authoritatively. “You need to stop this talk. Women do this all the time. Do you really believe all those women were always rich? And even if they have been, he still chose you. That means he saw something in you, even more than the money. He isn’t after the money, so if you try to remember the things I’ve been teaching you, you’ll be fine. Now quit worrying. When is the wedding?”

She always had a way of talking that made me feel like an idiot. “He said he’d call.”

“Well, I imagine it will be soon, so you better get back to practicing. Now you really need to know about fine dining, and wines, and stuff like that.”

I already felt overwhelmed just thinking about what Henrietta would teach me, because I remembered what an overload it had been the last few times.

“Mom won’t be home in the morning, so we can work on it then, okay?” She rocked into me as she spoke.

“Ugh,” was my reply as I fell back against the bed. What I was thinking when I let Henrietta talk me into this? But I still had time to back out…and then what? The words came to mind immediately after I thought of quitting, and so did the images of my mother and sister at the shelter. If getting them out of that horrible place meant deceiving a billionaire into marrying me, then it would be worth it. If I pulled it off!

I left Henrietta’s room shortly after to finish chores assigned to me. I moved robotically from one room to the next until I couldn’t feel my legs under me. Raymond called later that evening and told me we would handle the formalities the following week. I needed to get my things in order because I’d move in with him the same day. What things? I didn’t have anything to get into order—I had nothing!

I sighed as I curled up against the quilting on the twin bed I occupied in the servants’ quarters. In another week, I’d be married, and I wasn’t ready. This wasn’t the fairytale beginning I had dreamed about as a girl.

I didn’t realize when I’d fallen asleep, except that Henrietta’s voice came through loudly in my ears what felt like minutes after.

“Come on, Anna,” she said as she rocked me awake. “We don’t have much time.”

“What time is it?” I groaned and rubbed the remainder of the sleep from my eyes.

“Time to get up,” she ordered and yanked the quilt from me.

I looked around, half expecting to see bright rays of sunlight streaking through the windows. Instead, I only saw the quiet darkness interrupted by Henrietta’s demands on me. “It’s not even day time yet,” I scoffed and attempted to roll over.

She wouldn’t have it. “Oh no you don’t! Mom just left, and I don’t know when she’ll be back, so you need to get up.”

I sighed. “Can’t you bring me some utensils and show me here? It doesn’t have to be in the dining room.”

“Are you serious? That would be like teaching someone how to swim in the bathtub,” she insisted.

I snickered at her comment. “It’s not that ridiculous.”

“It is. You have to use them…not just know them.”

“Okay, fine!” I relented and swung my feet to the side of the bed. I wasn’t sure if I was discouraged about all of this —learning how to be proper—because of the circumstances of my marriage, or if it was the fact that there was nothing to be excited about. Henrietta was more excited than I was, which was sad.

I didn’t realize it would take so long for me to understand the usage of proper silverware and china. Henrietta was a bulldog, and she barked orders constantly. “Use this! Don’t put that there! Start from the outside and work your way in! Remove your hand! Chew like this! Don’t mumble!”

By the time she had finished teaching me, I really didn’t want to do any of it. I felt like I was in a drill squad, in the rain, as she showered me with orders. We were getting into what to do after dinner had been served when her mother walked in.

I froze. She had never seen me at the dining table before, and I wasn’t supposed to be there. I found the nerve and stood hastily. “I beg your pardon, ma’am,” I said with my head low and my shame high.

She didn’t say anything. She sneered and looked disapprovingly at Henrietta. “Henrietta, come with me!”

My heart thumped in my chest as I imagined what she would tell her. She had never made it a secret that she didn’t like the relationship that had developed between Henrietta and me. She didn’t want her daughter to be friends with the help—someone of her status should not do it. Henrietta hadn’t cared, and as often as her mother wasn’t around, she was with me until we had become great friends.

Even though she had money and I had none, we shared the same fate. We lived in a world where neither of us had friends, so we were led to become friends by our circumstances. Henrietta was nothing like her mother or any of the people I’d seen come to the house. She hated the class system and the rules. I was only learning them, and I already hated them.

As soon as Mrs. Sampson left with her, I hurried to complete my chores. Henrietta had not returned by the afternoon, when I had free time. I suspected her mother had confined her to the library with some boring world or political study that would occupy the rest of her day. Though so ladylike, she was only eighteen and still very much under her parents’ thumb.

I was glad when it was time to leave the estate. I could use the fresh air to both clear and gather my thoughts. My mind reverted instantly to Raymond. I couldn’t deny he was a handsome man—chiseled cheekbones, prominent cheeks, lips that appeared soft yet reluctant to smile. He was tall with an even-toned skin, no doubt with rippling muscles underneath the suit he wore. I imagined the way his hands would feel on my body, how his touch would provoke my sensuality, and how lost I’d get in his kiss. I felt my body responding to my thoughts, and before I got carried away, I ended them abruptly. Raymond Jameson didn’t want a wife. He wanted a bride. I would have only dreams.

Nothing had changed at the shelter, and as I climbed the cracked steps and ducked under the ripped awning that fluttered in the slight wind, I was greeted by the familiar stench of poverty and defeat. Teresa felt a bit better, it seemed, because she was playing with dolls with another girl. Her eyes lit up when she saw me come in.

“Hey,” I called as I scooped her up. “How’s my little sis doing?”

“I missed you.” She smiled and hugged me so tightly she temporarily cut off my air.

“I missed you too, sweetie,” I replied and squeezed her. I could detect the smell of sweat and dirt in her hair, and when I looked at my mother’s unkempt hair and ragged clothing, I grew weak with despair. Seeing them again gave me a renewed sense of hope, and I knew I had to marry Raymond if I wanted to rescue my family from the grip of sickness and imminent death.

“Hey, Mom,” I called as I got closer to her.

“I didn’t think I’d see you so soon,” she replied through coughs and sputters.

“I have something to tell you,” I said before I lost my nerve. “Hey, T, could you go play with your friend for a little while? I need to talk to Mom.”

“Okay,” she said, and hopped down. She walked away, then stopped and turned. “You won’t leave without saying goodbye, will you?”

She was so innocent and looked so angelic it brought tears to my eyes. “I won’t. I promise,” I told her. She smiled and skipped off, totally oblivious to the horrible condition of her present life.

“What’s wrong, Anna?” Mom asked immediately, the concern in her voice evident in its shakiness. “Did you lose the job?”

“Oh, no,” I hastened to assure her. “I didn’t lose the job.” I paused as I mustered the courage to continue. “I’m getting married.”

Her eyes bulged and her lips quivered. “What?”

“Yep. I’m getting married to a rich man, and as soon as I’m able, I’m getting you and Teresa out of this place.”

“A rich man? Are you crazy, Anna? Does he know who you are?”

“No, he doesn’t, Mom,” I replied sadly. “I saw him on this site where men go to find brides. I’ve already met him, and he’s decided he wants to marry me. But it won’t be like a real marriage, you know. He wants someone to have babies with, and—”

“Do you even hear yourself?” Mom spat. “What you’re doing is wrong. What happens when he finds out? He could have you thrown in jail or something,” she huffed and hugged herself as she rocked.

“But what choice do I have? Look at this place! Do you think I want to see you and Teresa suffering every day, unable to get the medicines you need? At least this way, I’d have the money to pay for your medicine.”

“What you get from the Sampsons is just fine,” Mom said stubbornly.

“Come on, Mom. You know what I get is barely enough or I’d have taken you out of here.” I paused and took her hard, calloused hands in mine. “This is the only way,” I pleaded. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll figure something else out. But he has already chosen me. I have to let this play out.”

I couldn’t believe I was so adamant with Henrietta before that none of this would work, and now I was convincing my mother it would.

“I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all,” she muttered.

“I know. I don’t either, but…it’s our way out,” I replied and squeezed her hand.

She had tears in her eyes when she looked at me. “It was never your job to take care of me—or us—Anna. If things had been different, you would be free to marry someone you love. I don’t like that you are marrying someone out of responsibility to me. It’s not right.”

“Mom, please don’t cry,” I begged her as I felt the lump forming in my throat and my eyes begin to burn. “You did what you could, and now it’s my turn, and you don’t have to feel bad about that. I want to do it.”

I hugged her, but she merely rocked herself and refused to say anything more. Teresa was her usual playful self when she wasn’t sick, and she jumped into my arms when I was ready to leave.

“Can I come with you?” she asked as she toyed with my hair.

“Not today, hon,” I whispered against her ear. “But soon I’ll come back for you and you will live with me.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” I said and kissed her cheeks already stained with dirt.

I had walked into the dilapidated building, my mind wavering as I tried to reconcile what I had to do with what I actually wanted. As I stepped onto the pavement and looked back, my heart was sorrowful, but I had a new sense of purpose. I would be the best bride Raymond Jameson could ask for. I’d be diligent in the remaining days, learning all I could from Henrietta, and I’d blow his socks off.

This was no longer a choice. This was the woman I needed to become. I would be his bride, and I’d save my family.