Kent Ashton's Backstory (Prequel to Catching Kent)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  The next day, he waited until Ann left the school before he asked her to sit with him under the trees.

  “Oh Kent,” she began, her face flushed with pleasure, “I saw the most beautiful wedding gown. Agnes says it’ll be perfect for our wedding, but I want you to see it and tell me what you think.”

  Surprised, he asked, “Didn’t your father talk to you?”

  “About what?”

  He studied her face and realized she had no idea he’d asked her father if he could marry her. He wasn’t sure what to say to that. Was it a good sign? Did it mean her father might relent? Was her father trying to gauge how serious he was about marrying her? Whatever the reason, he had to plan for the possibility that her father would never agree to them marrying. Making sure no one was in hearing distance, he asked, “Ann, how important is it that you have money after we get married?”

  She laughed. “I don’t understand the question.”

  No, she wouldn’t. Not really. And he didn’t know if he should explain why he was asking it. If her father never approved of the marriage, then she’d have to give up the lifestyle she was accustomed to. But he couldn’t tell her this without exposing his parents’ lack of wealth. “What if,” he ventured, “your father refuses to let me marry you?”

  “He wouldn’t. He knows how much I love you.”

  He sighed. She really had no idea what was going on. “Let’s say he refused to let us marry.” When she shook her head, he added, “He didn’t want me to court you. It’s not unlikely he’d say no to marriage.”

  “He has to understand that I don’t want to be with Todd. I don’t care what he thinks. I’ll never be happy with him. Todd isn’t you. You’re the only one I want.”

  “Is that why he didn’t want me to court you? Because of Todd?”

  “I think so.”

  And maybe that was why he refused to let her marry him. Her father was hoping she’d change her mind and choose Todd. What was it that made Todd so important to the man?

  “It doesn’t matter,” Ann said, offering him a smile that made him believe anything was possible. “I’ll always love you, and nothing will change that.”

  “Do you love me enough to go somewhere else and live off a working man’s income?” If he had to leave Virginia to be with her, he would gladly do so, no matter what the cost. He wasn’t afraid of hard work. After all, what good did it do to have servants at his beck and call when he wasn’t happy?

  “That’s silly, Kent,” Ann replied. “We both come from wealth. Do you not know how substantial my dowry is?”

  Yes, but would her father give him that dowry if he didn’t approve of the marriage?

  “I’ll go anywhere with you, Kent,” she continued, “but you have no need to worry about money. There’s plenty of it. Even if my father prefers Todd, he’ll honor his promise to give my dowry to you. Besides, your parents will leave you a sizable inheritance since you’re their only son.”

  He stared at her for a moment as he considered her words. So she loved him but she needed money, too. She wouldn’t be happy if she had to be the wife of a man who had no money except for what he could earn at a job. He wasn’t sure how he was going to secure her father’s permission. Maybe he’d consent because Ann would speak on his behalf. It worked before. He got to court her because she pleaded his case. It shouldn’t be that way. Her father should have agreed based on his merits, but apparently, his merits weren’t enough.

  And maybe he would be able to establish financial connections without Mr. Johnson’s help. Mr. Dawson was almost as influential as Mr. Johnson. His father was impressed with Mr. Dawson. Maybe it was time to become friends with Alex Dawson, even if he was Todd’s friend and pulled senseless pranks.

  “Would you like to walk me home today?” Ann asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

  “Um… Actually, I have a few errands to run,” he replied. “I’m sorry.”

  “There’s no need to apologize. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He stood as she rose to her feet. As she walked down the winding path, he returned to his seat and thought about how he was going to make everything work.

  ***

  As Kent entered his house, his father hurried into the entryway and beckoned for him to enter the parlor. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “We?” Kent asked as the butler helped him out of his coat.

  “Yes. Now, come. Don’t keep Mr. Johnson waiting.”

  Hesitant, he headed for the parlor, wondering what business he wanted with him. Knowing his father, this would probably be an unpleasant surprise. He took a deep breath as he approached him.

  Mr. Johnson set down his glass of sherry and motioned to the chair across from him. “Kent! Good, you’re here. Sit down and have a glass. We have much to celebrate.”

  “We do?” Kent asked, glancing at his father who shut the parlor door.

  “Now, don’t tell me you aren’t a little suspicious of what your father and I have been doing.” Mr. Johnson chuckled as he poured Kent a glass and held it to him. “Though, I’ll admit I’m not at all surprised to hear you changed your mind about Miss Statesman. No one can deny how well you and my daughter get along.”

  He turned his gaze to his father who gestured for him to accept the glass Mr. Johnson was handing him. With a tentative smile, he took it. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

  His father laughed and sat next to Mr. Johnson. “Even now, he’s too shy to tell you. Kent, my son, I told Mr. Johnson you wish to court Rebecca.”

  Kent almost dropped his glass. “You what?”

  “There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Mr. Johnson quickly assured him. “I heartily approve of the match. You and Rebecca will make a splendid couple. I understand you need to end your courtship with Miss Statesman and give a small space of time before you ask Rebecca if you can court her.” He paused. “These things needn’t be rushed.”

  Kent swallowed and looked at his father. How could his father do this to him?

  His father drank some sherry. “You ought to tell him the other good news.”

  “Oh, yes!” Mr. Johnson set his glass down and rubbed his hands together. “I have decided to sign you and your father up as partners with me in a couple of investments. You’ll need to keep the details to yourself since we don’t want everyone finding out about them, but they’re guaranteed to be fruitful in a year.”

  “And we’ll go to the bank tomorrow to work on purchasing them,” Kent’s father added. “I’ll pick you up in the carriage after school so we can head straight over there.”

  “But…I…” Kent struggled to find a way to tell Mr. Johnson he couldn’t court Rebecca, but his father shot him a piercing look.

  “You’ll have to forgive my son,” his father told Mr. Johnson. “I think our news has left him speechless.”

  “It’s to be expected, given his age,” Mr. Johnson replied. “I’ll never forget how uncertain I was when I was seventeen. It’ll be alright, Kent. As you get older, you’ll be more confident.”

  His father chuckled and motioned to the door. “You may be excused.”

  Kent placed the glass on the table. He had to think of something and he had to think of it quick because if he didn’t, his future would be unpleasant. With a polite good-bye to Mr. Johnson and his father, he left the room.

  Chapter Five

  The next day, Kent shifted in the carriage in an effort to get as far from his father as possible. His father was in a sickeningly good mood. The only thing that made his father this happy was when he was about to acquire a lot of money.

  “These investments will make us both wealthy in a year,” his father said, fidgeting with excitement. “We’re very fortunate to have made friends with Mr. Johnson.”

  “Then I don’t need to marry his daughter,” Kent replied, hoping his father would relent.

  “Rebecca will serve you much better. She might not come with a dowry as much as Ann’s, but you can’t
deny Mr. Johnson has better connections than Mr. Statesman does. Why, to have anything to do with Mr. Statesman is laughable. What benefit can he be to you?”

  “I don’t care what he can give me. I just want to marry Ann.”

  His father shook his head. “Foolishness. That’s all this is. You will marry Rebecca.”

  “No, I won’t, and there’s nothing you can say or do to make me.”

  The carriage pulled up to the bank and the driver opened the door, but Kent refused to look away from his father. His father finally broke eye contact and left the carriage.

  As he joined him, his father whispered, “We’ll see about that.”

  He glared at his father, but his father turned his back to him and approached the bank. If Kent didn’t need the money, he’d head straight home. But he did need the money if he hoped to be with Ann.

  When he entered the bank, his gaze fell on Todd who was at one of the desks. He grimaced. He forgot Todd worked here. It was because of Todd that Ann’s father wouldn’t let him marry her. What was so great about Todd?

  “Kent, come over here.”

  Kent headed over to his father, his steps slowing when he realized Mr. Johnson had brought Rebecca with him. She smiled at him in a way that made his stomach churn. Noting his father’s silent message to return Rebecca’s smile, he did, but only because they were in a public place.

  “Rebecca, my dear, why don’t you wait for me over there?” Mr. Johnson gestured to the couch in the center of the room. “We don’t want to bore you while we discuss business.”

  “Alright, Father,” she replied, offering Kent another smile before she left.

  Kent hardly paid attention while his father and Mr. Johnson went over the details of the investments, but soon enough, he followed his father to the teller. Feeling the heat of someone’s gaze on him, he scanned the room and saw that Rebecca was watching him. His face warmed with a mixture of aggravation and embarrassment. Todd wasn’t that far away, and he’d probably assume something was going on between him and Rebecca.

  “Excellent,” Kent’s father told the teller, interrupting Kent’s thoughts. He turned to Kent. “We’ll arrange things with Mr. Wilcombe.”

  The two men went to the office and filled out the necessary paperwork. When they were done, his father said, “I want to talk to Mr. Johnson. Sit over there and wait for me.”

  Kent looked at the couch where Rebecca was still sitting and sighed. The chairs were already taken, so there was nowhere else he could wait. “I’m not marrying her,” he whispered.

  His father ignored him and walked over to Mr. Johnson.

  Gritting his teeth, he stumped over to the couch and sat down, choosing a section that wasn’t right next to her.

  She chuckled and scooted closer to him. “There’s no need to be shy,” she softly said. “My father explained everything.”

  “What did he say?” He saw the two men leave the chairs and cursed his poor timing. If he’d only waited a couple more seconds, he could have been sitting across from her.

  She fiddled with her gloves. “Oh, about how you want to be with me. I had no idea you entertained romantic feelings for me all this time. If you’d only asked, I would have accepted your suit.”

  Is that what Kent’s father told Mr. Johnson? He couldn’t believe it. Settling a little further from her, he said, “Rebecca, I don’t know how to tell you what’s really going on.”

  “You don’t have to. I already know. Our times together have been magical.”

  “I can’t marry you.” There. He came out and said it. “I’m going to marry Miss Statesman.”

  “I don’t understand. There’s nothing stopping us from being together. My father heartily approves the match.” She frowned, her lower lip jutting out. “Why do you insist on marrying Ann Statesman instead of me?”

  “Ann Statesman comes from one of the wealthiest families in town.” Then before she could argue that she also came from wealth, he added, “She has a considerable dowry.” And that was true. Ann’s dowry was significantly larger than Rebecca’s.

  “But I thought your affections were for me.”

  He glanced at his father and Mr. Johnson. Neither would be pleased if he admitted that he had no desire to be with her, and quite frankly, it didn’t seem fair to let her know that he never found her attractive. “They are, Rebecca,” he finally hedged.

  “So why don’t you court me? Who cares about the money?”

  “It’s a lot of money we’re talking about. I want to do some traveling and entertaining. Her money will provide for that and more.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes. “So you’re giving up love for money?”

  He inwardly groaned. What was he supposed to say to that?

  His father approached them. “It’s time to go. You may see Rebecca when we attend our next dinner party at the Johnsons.”

  As he stood up, he happened to catch the way Todd was staring at him. Narrowing his eyes, he waited for a moment. Todd refused to break eye contact with him. What had he ever done to Todd? Just because Ann didn’t want to marry him, Todd hated him? Well, it was her choice who she ended up with.

  He considered going over to Todd and asking him if he had something to say to him, but his father cleared his throat. “Kent, time is of the essence.”

  Reluctant, Kent looked away from Todd and left the bank.

  ***

  “I’ve never been so happy in my entire life,” Ann said the next day as Kent walked down the block that would take her home. “When do you think we should have the wedding?”

  “I have to get your father’s approval before we can make plans, but I’d like to do it sooner rather than later,” he replied.

  “Before you talk to him, I want to go to him and tell him how much I love you. I’ve decided if I can’t marry you, then I won’t marry anyone. I’m going to tell him that.”

  Touched, he paused and turned to her. “Really? You’ll tell him that?”

  “Of course. I don’t want to be with anyone but you.”

  “And you don’t mind going to New York?”

  “As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter where we are.”

  Glancing around to make sure no one was looking at them, he kissed her. “I love you, Ann.”

  She smiled. “I love you, too.”

  Once they reached her house, he said, “Let me know when you talk to your father. I’d like to make our engagement official as soon as possible.”

  “I will. Thank you for walking me home.”

  “It was my pleasure.” He kissed her hand then bid her good-bye.

  Once she entered her house, he headed down her walkway when a carriage pulled to a stop. His steps slowed when he realized the carriage belonged to Ann’s father.

  The footman opened the door and her father gestured to him. “I need to talk to you.”

  Kent noted the stern look on his face and hesitated. Something told him he didn’t want to hear what her father had to say, but what choice did he have? Taking a deep breath, he entered the carriage and sat across from him.

  “Take us to Mr. Ashton’s residence,” her father told the footman who nodded and closed the door. Once the carriage moved forward, he turned his attention to Kent. “You’re not allowed to see my daughter anymore.”

  “Is this because you didn’t give me permission to marry her?” Kent should have expected this. He’d hoped Ann would get a chance to talk to her father before her father realized he was still courting her.

  “No, though the fact that I said no to your request is enough of a reason. But as it turns out, I know what’s been transpiring between you and Miss Johnson.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “What’s been transpiring between me and Miss Johnson?”

  “Don’t treat me like a fool.”

  “I’m not, sir. There is nothing going on between us. Our parents are friends. That’s all.”

  Her father glowered at him. “You would dare stare me right in the eye and li
e to me?”

  He swallowed, unsure of how to proceed.

  “I found out about your conversation at the bank.”

  Kent’s uncertainty slowly gave way to anger. Todd. Todd had been watching him. “Whatever Mr. Brothers said, it’s not true, sir.”

  “I didn’t find out from Mr. Brothers. I found out from Mr. Mitchell.”

  “Who?”

  “He was from out of town. I don’t know him and neither do you.”

  “I fail to understand how this involves me and Miss Johnson.”

  Her father pressed his hands on his knees and asked, “Are you going to deny that you told Miss Johnson you have a fondness for her? That you were only marrying my daughter for her dowry?”

  For a moment, he couldn’t breathe. Had he any idea someone was listening to his conversation, he never would have said anything. But how was he to know a stranger would meddle in his affairs? When he was able to release his breath, he said, “It wasn’t the way it sounded, sir. My father is determined that I’ll marry Miss Johnson, but I don’t want to be with her.”

  “Then why not just tell her that?”

  “It’s not that easy.”

  “Of course, it is, if it’s the truth.”

  “It is the truth.”

  Her father held his hand up to stop Kent from saying anything else. “I’ve heard enough. Your own words have betrayed you. I forbid you to marry her. Tomorrow, you will end your courtship with her.”

  “But—”

  “Don’t disobey.” The carriage came to a stop and he added, “This is the last time I’ll speak to you. Understand?”

  The footman opened the door and Kent struggled with something—anything—he might say to rectify the situation, but his mind drew a blank.

  “Go!” her father barked.

  He slightly jerked at the subtle threat in her father’s voice and hurried out of the carriage. It wasn’t until the carriage was halfway down the street that a tear slid down Kent’s cheek.

  Chapter Six