“Perhaps,” Catherine offered, and Georgina was glad she did not try to make excuses for Georgina’s actions. “However, there were things you did not know because Samuel and I did not discuss them.”
It took Georgina a moment to realize Catherine was talking about Norham. “He informed my uncle.”
“He did,” Catherine said, squeezing Georgina’s arm again when she let out a soft cry. “Please do not worry. He was the one who came out after you, brought you and your siblings back here.”
“Why?” Georgina asked quietly, not sure how to handle such information.
Catherine smiled, and there was a hint of teasing in there. Georgina found that she longed for that, glad that nothing had changed between them. She did not know what she would have done if Catherine refused to speak to her for her choices. “You must know how he feels about you.”
Georgina did not want to think on it. She did not know how to take his interest in her. “I am afraid of his advances.”
“I fear I am to blame for that,” Catherine said quietly. “I told you so many stories that you had a negative opinion of him from the start, and that is not fair to him or to you.” Catherine paused, her eyes taking on a faraway look, and then she was smiling sadly. “He was married once, you know. She was beautiful, kind and happy, but she died after only two years.”
“Oh no,” Georgina said softly, feeling her heart clench painfully on Norham’s behalf. “The Laura you are always talking about?”
Catherine nodded. “My brother was consumed by guilt and grief for so long that he found ways to release it. They were not always healthy, and I was so mad at him for it that I promised myself I would not let him lead you astray. It did not occur to me that he might actually have feelings for you.”
Georgina swallowed, thought of the way Norham had looked at her in his study, and did not know if she could reconcile the two men.
“You do not have to speak to him if you do not wish to,” Catherine told her. “I did not tell you this to guilt you into making a decision. Take some time. There are, however,” she said, her smile more genuine. “Some people who wish to see you.”
“Please,” Georgina said, eager to see her siblings.
She was grateful when they piled in, looking happy and warm, and she could gather them in her arms, remind herself that she hadn’t damaged any of them. Even Helena was smiling and did not seem to resent Georgina for her decision.
“I am sorry I put you all in danger,” she said, once the hugs had subsided. “I should not have done that.”
“What is going to happen to us?” Tom asked. “Jacob said Uncle Red is coming to get us.”
“He is,” Georgina said reluctantly. “I fear we will know soon enough.”
“Actually,” someone said from the doorway, and Georgina was surprised to see Norham standing there. “I believe I may have a solution.”
Georgina could not look away, and though Norham was smiling, it did not reach his eyes.
“Perhaps you children would not mind keeping Edward company outside? Mary and Isabella seem to be causing him mischief and I think he needs a man’s help. Or several men.”
The boys immediately agreed, dragging Helena with them, even though she was a girl, as Tom was keen to remind her. Georgina watched them go with a pained smile, uncomfortable now that she was alone with Norham.
“I owe you an apology,” Norham said immediately, startling Georgina. When he crossed the room to hover at her bedside, she gestured to the chair and he complied, looking as uncomfortable as she felt. “I should have told you that I believe you.”
Georgina’s eyes widened, surprised. “You did not say as much.”
“I know,” Norham said, looking as exhausted as Catherine had. If Catherine was right, and Norham had come after her, he must have been frantic about her state. She could not remember much after getting lost. The children must have been so scared. “I was remiss, and I would ask your forgiveness.”
“In return, I ask yours, for not telling you who I was and why I fled my home.” Georgina wanted to reach for Norham but did not know how to ask for it. She rested her hand on the bed between them, and was pleasantly surprised when Norham took it, hope burning in his eyes. “I apologize. It is no excuse.”
“Nonsense,” Norham said immediately, rubbing a thumb over the back of Georgina’s hand. “I understand your reticence. You do not, however, have to worry about your uncle again.”
“I do not understand,” Georgina said.
“Catherine,” Norham said, his smile genuine and proud, “contacted some friends and managed to find the butler of your Uncle Rudolph. Who,” Norham continued, “is not Red.”
Georgina was confused but remained silent as Norham explained what Catherine had discovered, and that while Georgina had been recovering, had brought the butler to the house to restate his story.
“We took him to the constables, along with the letter he sent and the letter you wrote Catherine. They have collected everything, and your uncle was arrested just yesterday.”
Tears welled up in Georgina’s eyes, more relieved than she could say. Norham touched a hand to her face, and she found herself leaning into his touch, unable to form the words that conveyed everything she was feeling.
“We can go home?”
“You can,” Norham said, though his smile took on a hint of sadness. “If that is what you wish.”
Georgina looked out at the room, the window that showed the vast estate the children enjoyed playing on. She thought of Catherine, her only friend, of Mary and Isabella and the children loving their time in the house. “If it is not?”
Norham looked hopeful. “I did not think you would ever accept an invitation to dine with me,” he confessed, “and when I discovered what had happened to you, I could not see a way to help you. Now, when there is no need, I find myself still wanting to keep you in my life if I can. As a Governess,” he said, and Georgina felt a bite of disappointment. “Or,” he continued, and she raised her head to meet his eyes. “As my wife.”
“Norham,” she breathed.
“I understand if you do not wish to accept. I will, of course, take care of your family in any way that I can.”
“I do,” Georgina said, squeezing Norham’s hands tightly. “I hope we can get to know each other much more than we do now, but I will marry you. It would be a welcome end to everything that has happened to me.”
“And, I think,” Norham said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Georgina’s lips. “To me.”
*** The End ***
The earl’s nemesis
Regency Romance
Grace Fletcher
Chapter 1
A Debt and a Proposal
Parrish Quarters
Harold Parrish stared at the letters in front of him. It was still unimaginable how he had ended up owing so much within just a couple of days.
“I fear there must have been some sort of foul play in this,” he said to his wife who was staring at him with cold anger.
“The only foul play here, husband is that you have doomed us all!” Elizabeth Parrish cried. “Your intolerable addiction has finally brought us to our doom. Harold, how could you do this to us? I cannot bear to think that you would finally bring such a great misfortune to myself and your innocent daughter!”
Harold Parrish stood up from where he sat. He was lost in thought and doing some fast thinking. Yet his wife kept on wailing. He turned to her, holding her by the hands.
“I beg your forbearance and I pray you forgive me, Elizabeth. I assure you, everything will be fine.”
“This is an ungracious behavior, Harold, and I daresay is unforgivable. One of the debtors has threatened to come for your daughter if the debt is not duly paid. How do you plan to make this right?”
“Calm down, woman!” he said to her. “I have great hopes on making this right. If you would but just allow me to think a little. I assure you that this misfortune of ours will soon turn into a great fortune!”
“I do not care what you have to do, Harold,” Elizabeth said, standing up. “Your daughter and I shall not be part of your dangerous schemes!”
“Upon my word,” he swore to her. He desperately needed her to calm down. Elizabeth said nothing more but instead left the room.
Harold inhaled a quick breath. He took another glance at the six letters on the table. How could a man end up owing so much with a few days of gambling? Perhaps there had actually been a major foul play, he thought to himself. He picked up the letters one after the other and began to go through them; he hoped to find a mistake of some sort. After going through them twice, he realized there was not a single bit of mistake.
Finally, he leaned back on his chair, busy thinking on how to find his way out of it. While he was doing this, his eyes fell on a box on his second table. At first, he fought the urge of opening it but seeing the letters on the table pushed him to stand up.
He first of all emptied the content of the box which included some files. ‘HUDSON’ was boldly marked on each of the files in a blue ink. When he got to the last file, he separated it from the rest, and then walked back to his seat.
He opened the file on his lap. In it was a white paper that contained some information and written at the top was ‘The Will.’
His lips twisted into a mischievous grin. “This will be easier than I thought,” he said to himself as he continued reading.
***
Barton Estates
Charles Hudson, the Earl of Barton, dismounted from his horse with the help of one of his servants.
“Thank you, Isaac,” he said to him, patting the young lad lightly on his shoulder. He had just gone on a quick ride to clear his head.
“So, any message for me?” he asked Isaac who was preparing to take the horse to the stable.
“Yes, brother. There is a message for you,” said a female voice.
Barton turned around to see his younger sister, Luanne. She was a beautiful reincarnation of their late mother, especially with the red hair and green eyes. He had taken after their father’s brown hair and blue eyes.
He was astonished to see her, as on a normal day, she would still be at her music class. Luanne said nothing but instead chose to walk closer to him, he noticed a folded letter in her hand. Aside this, she looked really disturbed.
“What are you doing home so early, sister? Pray tell me all is well.”
“I fear all is not well, brother,” she said as he got to her. She handed him the letter and when he saw the name of the addressee, the muscles on his face tightened. His brother whom he had not seen close to about fifteen years would be coming home, and not only that, he wanted to come home to claim his properties.
***
Some minutes later, they were both in the house. While Barton paced to and fro, Luanne remained calm in her seat.
“What do we do?” she finally asked.
He said nothing. His face was still hardened. He could not imagine that his brother would choose to come home after being away for so long. The worst part of it was that, Terrence had written in the letter that he was coming to take back that which was his.
Terrence was their oldest brother who had been banished from the family many years ago, since their childhood. He had chosen to stay away till the demise of their father; now he was coming back to claim their father’s properties. If he could decide to come home just because of that, then Barton knew that his older brother had not changed one bit. He was still a selfish, arrogant, and dangerous man.
“Shall I call the lawyer?” Luanne finally asked.
He looked at her without giving a reply. Ever since their father died six months ago, he had told Mr. Parrish to hold on to the will; he was not yet certain that he wanted to go through it. He just wanted everything to be as it used to be. However, with what his brother had just said in the letter, he knew that soon, he would have a struggle in his hands.
***
Parrish Quarters
Miss Theodosia, the only child and daughter of Harold and Elizabeth Parrish sat in the garden, reading from a novel in her hand. Her maid, Sophie, sat behind her, busy knitting. Theodosia was twenty-two years old but yet to be married. She never believed in having an arranged marriage. Instead, she believed in love, and for this reason, she had promised herself not to settle for anything less. She and her father had never gotten along well, but she was very close to her mother. She was also a very beautiful lady who was never tired of making peace between her mother and her father.
She smiled as she got to the ending of the book in her hand, then she finally closed it.
“Oh! That was such a delight to read,” she said to her maid.
“You are done with it already?” Sophie asked.
“Yes, Sophie. I am done. You would never believe what happened at the ending,” she said excitedly. Most times, she would narrate what she was reading to her maid.
“Anything different from the usual? Where the prince and the princess lived happily ever after?” the maid inquired.
Theodosia laughed. “Well, you are right of course,” she replied and then sighed. “I love happily ever after. I hope to find mine someday.”
“I believe you shall, miss,” Sophie replied. She was just seventeen years old and was likewise Theodosia’s closest friend.
“I’m afraid, father is getting rather impatient. I fear he may decide to ship me off to a total stranger. He keeps talking of my marriage every day.”
“Well, your mother is making him see reason why they need to wait for you to find a suitable man for yourself,” Sophie replied.
“I know, Sophie but, each day, I’m filled with this strange feeling that he is perhaps tired of me living under his roof.”
“Do not think that, miss. A father cannot be tired of his own daughter.”
“You know so little of my father. If he keeps having money problems, then things will never get better. His gambling is making things worse every day. Mother keeps complaining. I find it difficult to grasp why he just doesn’t want to change. Why is he so stubborn?”
Sophie smiled but was quiet.
“If not for anything, I wish to leave the house for my father. Maybe being shipped away with a total stranger may not be that terrible. As long as I get to leave this house.”
As they kept on talking, her mother approached. When she saw the look on her mother’s face, she turned to her maid. “Leave us, Sophie.”
Sophie nodded and excused herself.
Quickly, Theodosia ran to her mother. “Mother, what is it?” she asked, impatiently.
“Your father,” her mother replied.
Theodosia sighed and asked, “What has he done this time?”
She listened as her mother began to recount all that happened. When Theodosia heard everything, she was mad.
“Where is he?” she demanded.
“At the Barton estate, the earl sent for him,” her mother replied.
***
Barton Estates
Barton and Luanne exchanged glances as they heard everything the lawyer had just read to them. It had been stated in the will that Barton could not own the properties unless he found himself an heir before his thirtieth birthday. Other than that, his brother could come after his thirtieth birthday to claim the properties.
“Are you certain that my father had written that?” he asked the lawyer again.
“Yes, my lord,” Harold, the lawyer replied. He handed Barton the file.
Luanne and her brother went through the information and realized he was speaking the truth.
“But why would father do this to me? To us?” he asked his sister.
Luanne clearly had nothing to lose, even though either of the brothers would inherit the properties, she had the chance to share with whoever finally got the properties.
“My lord, I am quite certain that father had a good intention for writing that in his will,” she said.
Barton stood up angrily. “Pray, tell me what inte
ntion that could be!”
“He wants you to marry before your next birthday, brother! You are just twenty-nine, how terrible could that be?”
“But I do not have the interest at heart. I would not be compelled into marriage!”
Luanne sighed as Barton walked out of the house. She faced Lawyer Parrish and said, “Mr. Parrish, thank you for everything, you may leave while I talk to my brother.”
The lawyer tied the files together and put them in the bag he had brought. Then he stood up.
“I trust your intelligence, my lady. I hope you will succeed in convincing your brother that your father only meant well. Be it as it may, if you need any help in finding a suitable wife for him, I will be much obliged to-” his voice trailed off with the cold stare Luanne sent him.
“Have a nice evening,” he said quickly and left.
***
Some minutes later, Luanne was alone in the house. She knew that her brother had gone riding. That was the only thing he did anytime he needed to clear his mind or escape something.
She wasn’t a bit angry with what their father had done—as a matter of fact, she simply loved it.
“Here is your tea, my lady,” said Anne, one of the maids. She placed the tea on the table and was about to leave.
“Do stay, Anne,” Luanne said.
“Very well, my lady.”
“I beg of you, I shall be asking you few questions and nothing would gladden me more than to hear the simple truth from you.”
The young lady nodded.
“Tell me, has my brother been seeing any lady recently?”
The maid flushed in embarrassment. “Not that I know of, my lady.”
“So, all the time I was away, he never received any female guest?” Luanne asked again. She had traveled to visit a distant aunt some weeks ago and had spent about three weeks.
“None my lady,” Anne replied.
“Thank you, you may leave,” Luella said, and the maid left.
Luella sighed. There was only one way to handle this, she may need to find her brother a wife before it is too late.
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