Chapter 7

7

"Elizabeth, are the gifts ready?" William asked as he looked at his watch.

William Lockwood wasted no time in getting expensive gifts, jewels, fruits chocolates and whatever else took his fance, to be taken to the Carter House to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage.

From what little he heard from Alessandro Carter, he understood they are not out for Lockwood fortune unlike Eleanor's in laws. That makes their daughter a good bride for his precious son. 

"Yes. But aren't we going a little overboard William. We are going just to ask for their daughter's hand in marraige. Not to fix the wedding. What if they rejected the proposal?" Elizabeth asked, not sure about taking the gifts along. William is over doing it.

"Reject? Why would they reject the Lockwood heir? Would they get a better son in law than our son, Elizabeth. He is handsome. He is responsible. He is well settled. And he is humble and compassionate, unlike some spoiled brats in our social circle. Above all that, he is not a bloody playboy. What more could they ask for in a groom from their daughter? He is perfect" William asked in disbelief. 

Benjamin walked into the living room and stopped dead on tracks seeing the amount of gifts arranged in front of him.

"Dad? Mom?" He looked at his parents in absolute horror. 

"Everything is set Benjamin. Let's go?" William said 

"Dad! Are you crazy? They would definitely think we are crazy if we walk into their home with all these" Benjamin said in horror

"What is wrong with you two. Why would they think such a thing? This has been a tradition in Lockwood marriage fixing for centuries, Ben. We are not going to change that now" William said waving his hand, dismissing his wife's and son's worries as if they are silly things.

"But we are going to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. We are not going for to fix the wedding" Benjamin said, trying to put some sense into his father's head

"I don't believe in wasting time Benjamin. As soon as they agree, we can proceed further" William said with a casual shrug of his shoulders

"Dad. Listen-" Benjamin tried to speak, but William wasn't having any of it

"No you listen, Ben. Let's not waste time. Come on, let's go" William said and walked out instructing the maids to carry the gifts to the car. 

Benjamin and Elizabeth shared a helpless look with each other

"Benji?" came the sweet voice

Benjamin looked down to see Sapphire grinning at him ,with something held tightly in both her chubby little fists. 

He picked her up in his arms and tickled her making her a giggling mess.

"What have you got there?" He asked looking at her tightly held fists

Sapphire grinned and hid her hands behind her making Ben more curious.

"Hiding from Uncle? Show me what it is!" Benjamin said and took her small hands in his 

He pried open her fists and saw one Hershey kisses chocolate in one fist and a dry fruit in another. 

"Where did you get this from?" He asked chuckling

"Sapphy" she said adamantly, telling him that it's hers. 

"Okay. But where did you get them from" he asked again and then it clicked 

"You bad girl. You stole it from the gifts" Benjamin asked teasingly

"Sapphy no bad" she said adamantly, with an adorable angry pout on her face.

"Sapphy bad. Sapphy stole chocolates" Benjamin said in a baby voice, enjoying riling up the toddler

Sapphire's lips curled down in an angry pout 

Benjamin chuckled as he took the chocolate from her hand and peeled open the aluminium foil. 

"Who wants to each chocolate?" Benjamin asked loudly looking around 

"Sapphyyy" Sapphire screamed wanting to her get uncle's attention back on her 

"Aww. Sapphy wants chocolate? Then give uncle a kissie" Benjamin asked pointing his cheeks 

Sapphire planted a loud slobbery kiss on his stubbled cheeks and giggled as his whiskers tickled her skin.

Benjamin rubbed his cheeks against hers earning another bout of giggle 

"Okay. Open you mouth" Benjamin ordered and Sapphire followed 

"Now let's go meet Isabella" Benjamin said 

cheerily 

"Bell-Bell??" Sapphire asked with a squeal 

"Yes. Let's go meet your Bell-Bell" 

****

"We have to get the child." Lillian Thompson seethed at her elder son.

"Eleanor has specified it in her will that the child should be looked after by the Lockwoods, Mom" Peter Thompson said.

He is tired of his mother's machinations and manipulations. She ruined his brother's life. If he let him, she will ruin his too.

What is the point in making an enemy out of rich and powerful Lockwoods. He is far out of their league. And he wouldn't be able to fight them even if he wants to.

"The Lockwooda never once visited Eleanor or her child during last three years. They don't deserve to raise her" Lillian argued.

"Lillian, I think it is better to let the child grow up with her maternal family" Allison, Peter's wife said

"You don't get to decide that" Lillian snapped at her daughter in law and walked out of Peter's house angrily.

Peter let out a sigh and sat next to Allison.

"Your mother is going to ruin everything. She ruined John and Eleanor's life. If she hadn't interfered, manipulating John at every point of his life, they would have had a happy life" Allison said

"What's the point in worrying over it now" Peter said

"If I even had a slight idea on how your mother is, I wouldn't have married you and come into this family" Allison said

"Ally."

"I am scared for our kids Peter. I'm scared that she will ruin them. By making enemies out of the Lockwoods, she will ruin our life too" Allison said

"We won't let her ruin our life. Let's move away from here" Peter said and Allison was only too happy to get away from her evil mother in law.