Chapter 4：One who wants his daughter to be rich

―The wedding will be a disaster if you let him prepare anything.

―Perhaps we should have him set out the dishes.

―He tends to break them.

―Then have him set out napkins and utensils. Louis grumbled but nodded and returned to the kitchen. Jessica noticed that the backyard was lit up with torches, and there were tables and chairs set up for the guests who wished to eat outside. The dining room table was meant to seat twenty people, and there were more than twenty people at the house. It only made sense that allowances were made for the extra people. Leo turned his attention to her and smiled. Miss Allen, it's a pleasure to see you, he warmly greeted. You look lovely this evening.

They didn't even know each other well enough to be on a first-name basis. What was her father thinking of arranging this marriage? She could only hope that Leo would listen to reason.

―Mr. Monroe, she began, there is an important matter that we must discuss.

He seemed concerned by her words. What is it? Sir, a maid called out as she ran up to him. Forgive me for interrupting, ma'am,‖ she quickly told Jessica. Turning back to Leo, she continued, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Leroy are arguing. They are disrupting some of the guests. He frowned. I'll be right there. The maid nodded and ran off to take care of another matter.

―I'm sorry, Miss Allen. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Leroy don't get along but I had to invite both of them. Can we discuss whatever is on your mind after dinner? he asked.

―Yes, she reluctantly agreed.

―Thank you.

She rolled her eyes as he ran to one of the parlors where the two men were shouting. She noticed that several guests had stopped talking to stare at the argument. She passed by the parlor, aware that Leo was calmly talking to the two men, and walked into the entertainment room where she saw her friends still sitting on the couch.

―Good evening, Julie and Mary, she greeted as she sat in the chair across from them.

―Good evening, Jessica. Mary smiled at her. We had no idea you were entertaining romantic thoughts for Mr. Monroe.

―I'm not. My father and his uncle arranged this marriage.

―Really? Why? Julie asked.

―You promise not to tell anyone? Jessica looked at them. She knew she could trust them to keep her secret. They nodded. She quickly made sure no one was listening to them before she said, Father went bankrupt and is determined that I should marry Mr. Monroe since he's rich.

Mary's eyes grew wide. All we heard was that your father and his uncle arranged the match. No one knows exactly why. We assumed it was because your father and his uncle get along very well.

―Yes. They are friends.

―I'm sorry to hear about the engagement then, Mary replied.

―What a dreadful fate, Julie agreed. Mr. Monroe is so dull.

―I'm hoping he'll let me out of the engagement, Jessica confessed. It looks like I won't be able to talk to him until after dinner.

―That would be a blessing if he agreed that this marriage is wrong,‖ Mary responded. We shouldn't be forced to marry someone against our will. It's 1894 for goodness' sakes.

―How is Harrison taking the news? Julie asked Jessica.

―I wonder if he feels the same way, Mary considered.

―Perhaps, he would be interested in courting you anyway. After all, he did just ask to court you.

She shrugged. I don't know if I can even get out of this engagement. Though I hope I can, I'm not sure what Mr. Monroe will do. My father surely isn't going to let me out of it since he adores the man.

―What father would wish to confine his daughter to a man that she doesn't want?

―One who wants his daughter to be rich, Julie replied.

―What if you and Harrison eloped? Wouldn't that be romantic? Mary mused.

―It would be foolish, Julie argued. He would be disowned by his father and Jessica would be as poor as she is now.

―But at least she could be with someone she wants to be with.

Jessica thought over the idea. What if Harrison did want to marry her? Maybe he would be willing to leave his wealth behind and be with her. It would certainly be much nicer to be with him than Mr. Monroe. She decided that she would visit Harrison the next day and discuss the possibility with him if Mr. Monroe still insisted on the marriage.