Status and Silence

Petticoats upon petticoats are lifted over me and settled on my delicate hips. It’s a surprise that I don’t snap like a twig from the weight of them. An even bigger surprise is how I don’t suffocate or have my ribs shattered from the constricting nature of the corset. Praise the merciful lord that it is cold today or heat stroke would be added onto my list of concerns and grievances as the yards of fabric suffocate my petite frame. My beloved nanny hustles me out the door quickly so I don’t miss the brunch with my parents and fiance. I was lucky enough to not only marry up, as I was supposed to, I also avoided marrying my cousin. I wasn’t lucky enough however to marry someone I loved, but that is impossible anyway. I have never held any fancy for anyone and as I grew from a little girl into a woman, that never changed. My soon to be husband knew this of course, it was the reason why he asked for my hand in marriage without my parents’ prompting. We both benefit for the relationship as he can be with his male lover and I am not forced to do anything I displease. His status of being rich only an added bonus. We both agreed we would lay with each other once in order to conceive an heir, but other than that we remain as friendly companions. No one is aware of our arrangement, it is better that way. We are both happy with our decisions and see no reason to ruin that happiness. If anyone finds out I shall take the fall. My fiance is a kind man and deserves the love that I cannot provide, so I pledged myself as the protector of his happiness. He is unaware of this as if he did, he would object. This is the one secret I hold from him and I hope I never have to enact it.