News of Michael Peterson Deciding to Marry Off His Only Daughter Sent the Entire Village into a Frenzy.

The news that Reginald Whitworth intended to marry off his only daughter sent ripples through the entire village. Oh, there was good reason for the stirthe bride-to-be wasnt just plain but downright unfortunate in looks, with a prominent nose, a slight squint, and legs of mismatched length. No suitors were queuing up for poor Dorothy. Even a simple stroll to the village shop and back usually earned her sniggers that followed her like a persistent shadow.

“Might as well limp like Dotty Crookedleg,” mothers would scold their children if they mimicked her uneven gait in play.

But Reginald doted on his daughter. And as a man of meansbeing the local magistratehe promised a handsome dowry. Soon, whispers spread through the village. For such a sum, one might just overlook the girls appearance. After all, she was hardworking and mild-tempered.

Two suitors emerged. Timothy and Albert. Timothy, the schoolmasters son, was bookishan intellectual, if you will. His family wasnt wealthy, but he already had a cottage on the village outskirts, ready to move into. His parents were keen to ally with Reginalds family.

“Timothy, best prepare for wedlock,” his father declared. “Ive settled on Dorothy, Reginalds girl. Shell make you the finest wife.”

“What? That crooked, plain thing? Id rather have Marianne,” the reluctant groom-to-be scowled.

“No son, youll marry Dorothy. Her familys better offjust think of their horses! Beauty fades, but money talks,” his father reasoned.

The other suitor, Albert, wasnt destitute but far from prosperous. Raised by his elderly mother, he had no property to his name.

“Albert, love, what are you thinking?” his mother fretted when he asked her to ready his best clothes for courting. “The village will laugha pauper like you aiming above his station! And the girls no great beauty.”

“No beauty? Mum, her eyes are blue as cornflowers, and her braids like firelong and bright. The limp doesnt bother me. Now, lets go propose.”

Sighing, she prepared, thinking her Albert must have a heart large enough to see past appearances.

Reginald was stunned to have two suitors. Wise with years, he knew Dorothys looks werent for everyone. After meeting both families, he favoured Timothy.

“But Father, I prefer Albert,” Dorothy murmured, eyes downcast. “We met by the lake bridgemy pail handle broke, and he helped me straight away. Hes kind, and his eyes are warm. Timothy looks at me sly-like, cold.”

Reginald shook his greying head. “I fear Albert would squander your dowry. Never known comfort, then suddenly wealth? No, Timothys the steadier choice. Good family, too.”

Dorothy had no choice but to agree. Her heart leaned toward Albert, but defiance wasnt in her nature.

The wedding was swiftbest not risk a change of heart. Within a month, the couple settled into their cottage. Dorothy, despite her flaws, was diligenteverything thrived under her care. Timothy, however, lounged in bed, buried in books. Raised in a scholarly home, hed always been bookish.

“Dorothy, have you ever read Austen? Or perhaps Dickens?” hed sigh. “Goodness, youre dull. What is there to even discuss with you?”

“Whats to discuss? The pigpen needs mending, and the troughs cloggedthe swine keep spilling their slops,” shed list.

“Always pigs and pens,” Timothy would wave her off. “Your father gave us horsestend them yourself.”

So it went. Dorothy toiled from dawn till dusk, while Timothy read, sneering at her lack of refinement. Once, she appealed to his parentssurely theyd correct him? But no.

“Let him read,” her mother-in-law shrugged. “Women are strongyoull manage. Else hell find a prettier one soon enough.”

And he did. Evenings, hed sneak through the orchard to visit Marianne, whose charms were no secret. Soon, the village buzzed with gossip. Eventually, Timothy stopped hiding it.

“At least Mariannes someone to talk tounlike you. And youyou cant even give me an heir,” he spat.

That cut deepest. An heir was expectedby his parents, by him, even by Dorothy herself. Yet no child came. Perhaps the endless labour was to blameshe did the work of both man and wife.

More and more, she thought of Albert. What if shed followed her heart? Then she met his mother againthe old woman mentioned Albert had left for the city after the failed courtship, trained as a veterinarian, yet remained unwed.

“He was heartbroken, Dotty. Truth be told, I was against you too,” his mother admitted, scrubbing a rug with lye soap. “Didnt know then what a good lass you were. Id pushed him toward Marianne. But he saw clearer. Too late now”

“Ah,” Dorothy breathed, steadying herself on the slippery dock.

“Hes been assigned back hereplans to fix up the cottage,” the woman prattled on, oblivious to Dorothys blush.

*If only I could see Albert, just once* She flushed deeper at the thoughtsuch disloyalty, with a living husband!

Then life spiralled. Marianne fell pregnant by Timothy. The village gossiped ceaselesslyDorothy barely dared step outside.

“Dont take it hard,” Timothy shrugged. “A man needs heirs. Youve failed. Ive every right to send you back.”

“But Timothyweve a home! What will they say if I return to Father?”

“Not my concern. Pack your things.”

Choking back tears, she slipped through back lanes to her fathers. Reginald was furiousbut what could he do? Dorothy was barren.

Next morning, he went to reclaim his horsesonly to find Marianne parading in Dorothys dressing gown. Disgusted, he spat and left.

The village clucked, then moved on. Thennews! Albert had returned. In a city-cut coat and hat, he seemed from another world. His cane drew snide remarks (“fancy stick,” they called it), but envy simmered beneath.

“Welcome home, son,” his mother wept.

“For good. Theyre opening a veterinary clinicI volunteered. Well fix up the cottage. Now, whats the village gossip?”

Respected though he was, Albert still worked with his hands. By day, villagers brought ailing livestock; by night, he repaired roofs, fences, the apple orchard.

“You need a good wife,” his mother mused as he fitted a new latch on the shed. “No city girls suited?”

“All show, no substance. Pretty but hollownothing to talk about.”

She pursed her lips. “Men! Timothy said the same before he tossed Dorothy out.”

“Timothy? The teachers boy? His wife died, didnt she?”

“NoDorothy. Shes back with Reginald now. Mariannes moved in, swelling with child.”

Albert nearly dropped his hammer. “He cast her out?”

“Aye. And if youre thinking what I thinkshes barren, son. What use is she?”

“Dont speak of Dorothy like that! If Timothy doesnt want her, Ill wed her myself.”

“God save us! Your choice, but” She bit her tongue, regretting the conversation.

Next day, Albert called on Reginald. This time, he was a man of standingsurely no refusal? And Dorothy, now “past her prime,” might have a say.

Reginald welcomed him warmlythen nearly wept at his proposal.

“Albert, Albert” he muttered around his pipe. “I kept Dorothy from you. Might her life have been different? Wife! Fetch her.”

“Ive no house yet,” Albert admitted, “but the clinics being builta home comes with it.”

“If Dorothy agrees, marry by Saturday. Think any queue forms for spoiled girls? Ill fund itmy only child shant want. Dorothy? Alberts here for your hand.”

In the doorway, she swayedthen nodded furiously, cheeks aflame.

“Settled!” Reginald beamed. “Wife! Fetch the blackberry wine.”

Soon, Dorothy was installed in Alberts home. The village tittered, then let it liewho disparages the local vet when livestock fall ill? Even Dorothys flaws faded from notice. And when Albert gifted her spectacles and a fashionable hat, the last gossips bit their tongues, addressing her as “Mrs. Whitworth” with newfound respect.

Before long, Dorothy was with childnot one, but twins! Albert rambled scientific explanations, but she didnt care. At last, through twists and turns, shed found happiness.

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