Chapter 2
A Plan
Harold tossed on his bed. He was finding it difficult to sleep. Another letter had just arrived for him the previous night. The thought of his debts was giving him a sleepless night. His mind went to Lord Baton’s will… if only his sister would reason along with him.
Quickly, he stood up from the bed. His wife who was lying beside him stirred.
“Anything the matter, Harold?” she asked.
He feigned a smile. “Nothing to worry about, dear,” he stated. He grabbed his robe and was heading towards the doors.
“Is this related to the letter that came in last night?” she asked.
Harold knew he had been caught. He turned to his wife, deliberating on whether to tell the truth or whether not to.
“Harold, say something!”
“I told you, dear inquisitive wife, that you need not subject yourself to a needless worry. There is no cause for alarm, I assure you,” he said, heading towards the door again.
“You have not answered the question!” Elizabeth said sternly.
After thinking for a while, he said nothing but opened the door and left.
***
Theodosia flipped to another page. She was busy reading and was sitting on her favorite chair in the courtyard. She desperately wanted to finish the novel in her hand and for that reason, had risen very early. She didn’t want to be disturbed while reading during the day. It was still some minutes before five in the morning so she was surprised when she heard a movement. Someone was coming to the courtyard.
She desperately hoped it would not be her father, but she was disappointed when she sighted him. He also looked surprised to see her.
“Good morning, father,” she said politely, rising to her feet.
“Morning, daughter,” he bellowed. “Why are you awake by this time?” he asked, eyeing the novel in her hand.
“I needed to do a light reading,” she replied, feeling a bit uneasy with the cold stare he was giving the book in her hand.
“I see,” he replied, taking a seat.
Theodosia did the same. The truth was that she and her father had never got along. No matter how they tried. There was something about him which she could not quite place. She managed to go back to her book but she could hardly concentrate.
“So, have you finally decided on when you are getting married?” he asked.
She sighed, rolling her eyes. “No, father. I am still not ready.”
He frowned. “Is this what all these books are doing to you? Making you unreasonable?”
“No, father,” she replied, trying hard to control her nerves.
“So, pray tell me. Why would someone as old as you are, still not be ready to get married?”
She thought for a while and replied, “Perhaps maybe because my father keeps gambling all his time away.”
This made him quiet, and she knew she had managed to infuriate him.
“Oh! I see, your mother has told you about the money problem, has she not?”
“Yes, father, as a matter of fact, she has. Don’t you think it’s about time you stopped this shameless act of yours?” she demanded.
“Ah! I can see that you are such an ingrate! Daughter!” her father said back. “All your peers are married and yet you see it necessary to talk to your father in such an impolite manner. Your time is far spent in this house and mark my words, you are going to leave this house one way or another. Your dowry is enough to settle my debts!”
“You are sending your daughter away, just because you think her dowry is enough to settle your debts? Father! What a thing to say!”
“I am the head of this house and I shall not be disrespected by anyone! Especially not by an ungrateful child who is twenty-two years old and still live with her parents!”
“Harold!” shouted Elizabeth. She had just come in.
He could see the horror on her face. “How could you say such a preposterous thing to our daughter?”
“Well, then, talk to your daughter!” he shouted at her before standing to his feet and leaving both ladies.
Theodosia looked at her mother and burst into tears. “How could he speak to me like that?”
Her mother walked closer to embrace her. “I believe your father is under a lot of pressure, he didn’t mean everything he said.”
“You and I know that he did, Mother,” Theodosia sniffed before her mother pulled away. Concern was written all over face.
“I can hardly understand your father these days. I cannot pretend that I am not surprised his recent attitude. He has changed and I do not know how to address it. All the gambling he does has put him into lots of debt and I worry for your sake and my sake. I daresay he is becoming more frightening to me
“So, what do we do, Mother?” Theodosia asked.
“I do not know yet, my dear child but everything will be fine.”
***
Harold was back in his study. He was going through some papers in his hands and at the same time was fuming. He was right by calling her an ingrate. What other word would suit a child who refused to get married just because she had a high expectation of whom to marry?
All this time, he had been patient by waiting for her to find the ‘right’ man. But now, he was losing his patience, especially now that he needed money badly.
He could count about four suitors who had come for her hand in marriage within the last six months she had managed to reject them all. He knew he had been patient enough for both his wife and his daughter. Right now, he had far exceeded the level of his patience.
He packed the papers in his hands. He knew that the older she grew, the more difficult it would be to get a suitor. It was time to take matters into his own hands. Perhaps, one more gamble should make him feel better.
***
Barton sat in his chamber, staring at the letter in his hand. He couldn’t stop going through it since the past three days that he had received it.
Dear brother,
I trust you are in a good health. So a word is out that our old man is dead. I will be around before the end of the month to come take what is mine. Regards to our beautiful sister. All of us shall see soon.
Till then.
Terrence
He couldn’t understand how someone could be so selfish but he was not a bit surprised, instead, he was disappointed. He had thought that the years that his brother had spent away from his family would at least make him a better man.
Many years ago, when they were still children, Terrence was twelve years old while he was just ten. He had always been the black sheep of the family and their father had sent him away for his waywardness on the night he had beaten their sister. Since then, he had failed to step foot into their house. But now, after nineteen years, he has decided to come back, to take what was his.
“My lord, are you feeling well?”
He folded the letter as he heard the voice of his sister. He stood up.
“Hello, sister.”
Luanne stared at his hand. She could see the crumbled paper in his grip.
“Are you still going over the letter?” she asked.
“Of course, Luanne. Tell me why I would not do that. Apparently, our brother has not changed one bit,” he stated.
Luanne sighed and walked closer to him. “My lord, I daresay now isn’t the time to talk about the waywardness of our brother or to argue on whether he has turned a new leaf or not. Now is the time to plan.”
“Plan what exactly? I am not interested in getting married. I keep telling you.”
“But you have no choice. Are you willing to give our brother everything that you have worked for?” Luanne demanded.
Barton bit his lips. There was no way he would allow that.
“Well, if that is the case, then I feel you need to calm down and let me handle this,” she said.
After a moment, he calmed down. “So how do you suppose we handle this?”
Luanne smiled. “Well, I think I have a plan.�
��
He watched as Luanne sent for one of his servants, Isaac. When the young man got there, he bowed to the two of them.
“My lady, you sent for me,” he said.
“Yes, Isaac. I want you to go quickly to the law office. Ask Mr. Parrish to come immediately. Tell him, this is about what he discussed with me yesterday.”
The lad nodded and left.
“What is this about?” He asked.
“Well, my lord, I did say I have a plan, you need not bother yourself. All that is required of you, is to put your faith in me,” Luanne said with a smile.
Chapter 3
Her Embarrassment:
His Luck
Theodosia was busy reading in the garden but she was finding it difficult to concentrate. There was a disturbing noise coming from somewhere she could barely place. It sounded as if several people were engaged in an argument but she was certain that it could not be coming from the house.
“Sophie, what noise is that?” she asked her maid who was sitting with her.
“I do not know, miss. Would you like me to find out for you?” Sophie asked.
“Yes, please, do,” Theodosia replied.
Sophie stood up and headed out of the garden while Theodosia went back to her reading. Shortly after, Sophie came back, she looked worried.
“Pray, tell me what the matter is. It is not that awful, or is it?” Theodosia asked.
“Well, miss, I’m afraid your father is causing all the noise.”
Theodosia frowned. “Do say again.”
“Well, your father has arranged a gambling table for men and there are about twenty men in the courtyard, betting and swearing.”
Theodosia gasped. She couldn’t believe that after everything that her father was putting them through, he still went ahead to gamble some more, and worse, he was doing it right in their home.
“Where is my mother?” she inquired.
“I do not know, my lady. I didn’t see her.”
Quickly, Theodosia walked out of the garden while Sophie ran after her.
When she got into the house, the noise increased. She walked to the courtyard and there she found several men just like her maid had said. The worst part of it was that her father seemed to be drunk. One question on her mind was that, where was her mother when all this was going on?
She left in search of her mother whom she found in her chamber, busy knitting.
“What in the devil’s name are you doing, Mother, when the house is about to collapse?” she demanded, in a horrified voice.
Instead, her mother looked up slightly and said nothing.
“I do not understand how you can be calm about this. Father is gambling again after everything!”
Her mother looked up one more time, sighed, and kept on knitting.
Theodosia was confused. What had gotten into her mother?
“Mother, please, I beg of you, do something. Say something,” she pleaded, rushing to her mother and kneeling beside her.
Finally, her mother spoke. “My darling daughter, what do you suggest I do? Your father barely listens to me anymore. Arguing with him is a waste of time and energy,” she said calmly and continued. “I’d rather allow him do what he wants to do. Who knows? Maybe he could be lucky this time and finally win some decent money.”
Theodosia gaped at her mother. She couldn’t understand what was happening but when she realized that her mother wasn’t going to do anything, she left.
While she descended the stairs, she was approached by the butler, Mr. Jones. He was a man in his early seventies and all the hair of his head was powdered white.
“Excuse me, miss,” he said to her. “A man seeks your father.”
“Send him to the courtyard, he must be one of his gambling friends,” Theodosia said with a languid interest.
“No, I assure you, he is not. He happens to be one of the humble servants of the Earl of Baton.”
Theodosia stopped in her tracks. She has heard the name before. “Well, this sounds quite important.”
“I suppose it is, miss,” Jones replied.
“Alright, take me to him right away.”
Minutes later, Theodosia was standing in front of the young lad who bowed slightly on seeing her.
“I was told you seek my father, sir?”
“Yes, miss. Pray, tell where I can find him.”
“Do come with me.”
Together they both walked towards the courtyard.
“There he is,” Theodosia said, pointing to her father who was clearly drunk and who had spotted her.
“Do you wish to go another round, Harold or would you give up now?” one of the men asked while the others laughed.
“Never!” shouted her father. “I have one more thing to bet on,” he said, standing up.
“What other thing could you possibly bet on?” asked one of the men.
“Maybe, his life,” shouted another. “It is worthless after all.”
“Well, you may be right about my life,” said her father. “But I have something valuable and beautiful that I am willing to give away to anyone who beats me on this next round.”
“Hear! Hear!” shouted another.
“What is that?” asked another.
“I give you my daughter!” her father shouted loud and clear, pointing towards her. Everywhere grew silent at once.
Theodosia thought she had heard wrongly. Did her father just use her to bet?
“She is indeed beautiful. I shall go the next round and hope to acquire this damsel for myself!” one of the men shouted and then another, the noise started all over again.
Theodosia frowned, she faced the man that had come with her but couldn’t find him anymore. Seconds later, she rushed out of the place.
***
“You are back so early, Isaac. And, where is the man whom I asked you to fetch?” Luanne asked as she saw the servant.
“My lady, Indeed I did see him but I was unable to talk to him,” Isaac replied.
“May I ask why?”
“My lady, forgive what I’m about to say but days back, I overheard you talking to my lord about getting a wife for him, and upon arriving there, I discovered something strange and delightful which would make things easy for you.”
Luanne was confused. She stood up from where she sat. On a normal day, she ought to reprimand the servant for eavesdropping but, she decided to keep that for later. “What did you find out?”
“Mr. Parrish is presently holding a gambling party in his residence and what more is that he has chosen to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to any man who could beat him at his own game.”
Luanne’s brows were raised. “Is this so, Isaac?”
“Yes, my lady, upon my life.”
“This lady, did you happen to see her?” Luanne asked, getting more excited by the turn of event.
“Indeed, for she took me to her father herself. She is a most charming young lady,” Isaac said.
“Ah!” said Luanne, nodding her head. “What a beautiful turn of event. Hold on while I go fetch the Earl. We must make use of this grand opportunity.”
***
“Sister, I do not think this a wise decision,” Barton grumbled. He was in his room, thinking about how to get a wife quickly within the next two months but his sister had interrupted him with a plan he considered as being preposterous.
“My lord, I believe this shall bring all our worries to an end. I beg of you, think this through. Right from childhood, you have never lost a game of gambling. I believe you shall win both the game and the woman’s hand in marriage. At the same time, you get the chance to keep the properties that you have labored for.”
He was quiet. His sister was right, perhaps he could try his luck.
“Alright sister, I shall do what you would have me do.”
***
“To think that my own father would hand me away to one of those insensible men at the table makes my heart grieve. What have I done to deserve such an unk
ind man as a father?” Theodosia cried to her maid.
They were both in her chamber.
“It was a shameful thing for me when I heard him utter such, Sophie. I could not take it; I fled the place.”
Sophie was quiet. Theodosia knew that the young lady was unsure on how to make her feel better. While she kept talking, there was a knock on the door. The ladies exchanged glances.
“Answer it,” Theodosia said to Sophie.
When Sophie opened the door, it was Mr. Jones.
“Your father wishes to speak with you, miss,” he said to her from the door.
Theodosia inhaled a sharp breath. “I wonder what it will be this time.”
She followed the butler downstairs where she found her father and mother waiting. The men had left and everywhere was quiet. Her mother was, however, uneasy and her father was looking as if she had something in his mind.
“What is the problem this time?” she asked, facing her father.
“Well, dear daughter, I am delighted to announce that you shall be leaving the house soon,” he said.
Theodosia could not see the delight in his face. “Leave the house, to go where, Father?” she asked, looking at her mother for an explanation.
“For your fiance’s house,” her father blurted. “He has won the game and thereby, he has won your hand in marriage. He has gone back home but will be coming tomorrow morning for you. I wish I had never been that drunk, he is a wealthy man who could have paid a ton for your hand. But I did not think someone of his caliber would show up.”
Theodosia was horrified. She looked at her mother again for a better explanation but there was none. So horrified and disappointed was she that she burst into tears and ran up the stairs.
Chapter 4
First Encounter
Barton Estates
“I believe congratulations are in order, Lord Barton,” Luanne said, raising her glass.
Barton smiled. “I was lucky,” he replied. It was late in the evening and he had gone back to his castle. He and his sister were in the courtyard.
“So, did you at least see the damsel?” Luanne asked.
He shook his head. “No, I couldn’t see her. The lawyer said to come for her in the morning.”
Regency Romances Page 148
