“I am telling you Bertraud. She is perfect. She looks like she fell face-first off a cart, but she is going to be perfect.”
Bertraud was confused. “You are happy that she is ugly?”
Thomas nodded. “There will be no way that I will want more. As long as she can cook and clean up a little, that is all I could ask for. I should kiss your wife for the idea.”
He gave him a dirty look at the idea. Even though the two had been together for over a decade, he didn’t like the idea of the young man whisking her off. “Hands off my Mariss. Well I am happy for you, if this is what you want. You still have time to back out of it if you want. Once you are married though…”
“I know, you have told me four times already today my friend. You will like her and I hope her and Mariss get along.”
Bertraud just shrugged, not really caring what the women did all day with themselves. As long as Mariss had dinner ready when he got home and his clothes were clean, he could care less. It made him realize that Thomas’ idea of marriage wasn’t that far off, though he was missing out on the best part of it in Bertraud’s opinion.
“Well I wish you happiness my friend, though I can’t say that I am looking forward to meeting her.”
“She is not that comely, just plain. I am sure it will be fine though.”
Bertraud just nodded, not sure if he was trying to convince him or himself. “Whatever makes you happy, my friend. Maybe you will stop being in such a foul mood, but I don’t know if I would want to come home to a plain wife.”
Thomas tried not to think about it. “As long as I come home to food and a fire, I don’t really care. I gave her the extra room, so you won’t be able to come over there when you have said the wrong thing to Mariss anymore.”
Bertraud chuckled and claimed that he only came over to remind her of what it would be like without him. They both knew that it wasn’t the truth, but Thomas was going to give him his fantasies. He wasn’t as nervous after seeing her as he thought he would be. It made him feel better to know that there wouldn’t be any romance between them. He liked the way her eyes had shone at him, but there wasn’t much more that she had going for her. She really was plain.
The two men did a little drinking and spent a lot of the day at the pub. It wasn’t until the time came for the wedding that they went back outside to a dark sky that Thomas let it all sink in. He was about to be a married man.
***
The small ceremony was going to be at his house and they had a minister coming to officiate that was sent by the man at the docks. It was part of what he was paying for and Thomas was more surprised at the clean interior than he was anything else. “Is this my house?”
Bertraud was given a dirty look from his wife and he tried to pretend that he was innocent.
“You had one thing to do Bertraud! He is barely standing!”
He smiled at his wife and helped Thomas stand up a little straighter. She did not find it very funny and she sighed loudly at him. “I cannot believe you two. It is your wedding day Thomas! You should not be like this.”
Thomas just smiled back at her and she was sick of seeing their grinning faces. Mariss had imagined the two falling in love, but then she was reminded of what he was really like and she hoped for Callie’s sake that he could sober up by the close of it.
She went back into the girl’s room and let her know that they were there and ready for her. Callie had this look on her face of panic and Mariss worried what she was going to look like when she saw the state of her husband to be. It certainly wouldn’t be what Mariss would be looking forward to.
“It seems that Thomas and Bertraud have had a little to drink.”
Callie didn’t seem bothered but she saw her face fall when she saw Thomas. She would have lost all hope, if she hadn’t also seen the way he looked at her. Mariss had a feeling that he was going to find a way to sober up quickly.
“This isn’t Callie.”
She looked puzzled for a moment and then stopped. Callie must have realized that he was too drunk to know who she was. “Yes. Don’t you remember?”
“But you were so pale and plain.”
Mariss closed her eyes and sighed. It was definitely not what she would like to have heard when she was about to be wed. Callie seemed to take in stride and shrugged. “The journey was long. I didn’t really have time to freshen up. Are you not pleased?”
He nodded his head that he was, though another part of him was not. Thomas had honestly wanted a wife that he wouldn’t have to lust after, but how could he not if she was to be his? Her body was curved and voluptuous in a tight white gown. Her chest heaved with her faster breathing and she was upset. He saw that she was, but he was more worried about looking at her to answer the question. He had heard it, it was important, but as his gaze went up her body, Thomas had forgotten about it all together.
It was only when Mariss slapped him from behind that he nodded his head that he was pleased. How had he not seen it before?
“Sorry Callie. I just didn’t recognize you. Yes I am very pleased. You are beautiful.”
She heard his words, but he didn’t seem very please. The look on the man’s face was worry and she thought that she may have preferred the dumbfounded look from before.