Page 40 of Six Nights to Marry a Marquess

CHAPTER 19

Theodore wrestled with his choices, each option carrying its own burden. The decision to distance himself from Agnes was driven by a desire to protect her, yet it filled him with an acute sense of dread. Could physical distance truly safeguard her from the shadows of his history?

“The rains were brutal this year, My Lord,” Mr. Stevens remarked, his tone heavy with concern as they surveyed the storm’s aftermath. The sight before Theodore was disheartening; several tenant homes bore the scars of nature’s wrath.

“I had only just sent a letter regarding the situation when news of your return reached us,” the steward added.

Theodore’s heart sank. The legacy of his father, now compounded by natural calamity, seemed an insurmountable burden. The debts that loomed large were now joined by the urgent need for repairs.Would this ever end?

“We’ll see to their repairs,” Theodore affirmed, addressing his tenants with a resolve he scarcely felt. “For now, we may need to relocate you to one of the other properties nearby, temporarily.”

“Oh, that is but a small inconvenience, My Lord,” a tenant responded, his voice imbued with gratitude. “To see our homes restored will be worth it.” He appreciated the understanding of the tenants.

“Are we traveling, Mama?” the tenant’s daughter inquired, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Only for a short while, dear,” her mother assured her. The little girl squealed in delight.

The scene unfurled before Theodore, stirring a sense of kinship and duty. The child’s joy, so reminiscent of his own sister Leslie’s in her younger years, coaxed a genuine smile from him—the first since his nuptials.

“Do you enjoy traveling?” he found himself saying to the child, crouching to her level with a warmth he hadn’t felt in days.

“I love moving about,” she responded, her enthusiasm infectious. “Look, I even have my own carriage,” she declared, scampering off to retrieve her prized possession from a corner of their modest living room.

She returned, presenting a miniature wooden carriage to Theodore. Despite its age and the wear visible in the chipped paint, it was a treasured artifact in the eyes of its young owner.

“It’s splendid,” Theodore commended. “Seems perfectly sized for your little journeys,” he added, tapping her nose gently, eliciting a burst of giggles from the child.

As they made their way out of the tenant’s dwelling, Mr. Stevens’ hesitation caught Theodore’s attention. “Is something the matter?” Theodore asked.

“My Lord,” Mr. Stevens began, “there’s a matter concerning the crops. A blight has taken hold, devastating an entire field—though, thankfully, it’s one of the smaller ones.”

His steward’s attempt to soften the blow of the blight news did little to alleviate the sense of impending doom, and his hands clenched into fists.

“A small field doesn’t make it any less of a loss, Stevens,” Theodore managed to say, the words heavy with the burden of leadership and the responsibility it entailed.

“I understand, My Lord. It was not my intention to diminish the severity of the situation. I only hoped to offer a slight respite amidst the storm of bad news,” Mr. Stevens replied, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Theodore offered a terse nod in acknowledgment, his mind already racing through potential solutions.

Upon his return home, he found his solicitor, Mr. Thompson, waiting for him. “I have made the payments as per your instructions, My Lord,” Mr. Thompson announced. “It was a generous dowry, and we were able to pay off more than half of the debts,” Mr. Thompson continued.

Theodore couldn’t help but reflect on the source of that dowry, and Agnes herself—an unwitting ally. The realization that he had been forced to rely on such means, dictated by the sins of his father, left a sour taste in his mouth.

“We must find a way to secure more funds soon,” Theodore stated, sitting behind his desk in his study. “There are repairs in the estate that need to be done immediately.”

Mr. Thompson’s momentarily buoyed spirits seemed to wane at Theodore’s declaration. “Of course, My Lord. I shall endeavor to ascertain the potential earnings from the business ventures we’ve recently rejuvenated.”

Their efforts to mitigate the estate’s financial strain had seen them paying off significant portions of debt, while also investing in some promising merchants. Though it was premature to expect returns, the urgency of their circumstances left no room for hesitation.

“The response from Lord Asmont’s solicitor has also arrived,” Mr. Thompson said, shifting slightly in his seat.

“And?” Theodore prompted, a spark of hope igniting within him, even though Thompson’s expression did not look bright.

“The Earl is presently indisposed, unable to schedule any meeting,” Mr. Thompson relayed, his tone apologetic. “Despite my persistence, his solicitor could not commit to any future engagements, citing an overly congested schedule.”

Theodore’s response was a heavy silence. With a curt nod, he rose and excused himself, the confines of the house suddenly suffocating. His steps carried him to the stables. He mounted a horse and spurred it into a gallop.

“You forgot the saddle, My Lord,” the groom called behind him. Theodore did not so much as turn to acknowledge him. He had ridden without a saddle many times before, and frankly, he found it quite comfortable.

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