Page 12 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
“When I am old enough, I may marry whomever I choose,” she said as she looked up at her father, then took several steps away from him. Caroline looked at her mother then but saw that the woman would not help her if this was the choice she was going to make.
“I may be old enough to marry yet still young to choose my own husband. But when I am but a spinster, I’m sure you two will gladly be rid of me and will not stop me if I choose to marry William,” Caroline said, folding her arms around herself as she spoke without really thinking.
“And do you think Mr Randel would really wait that long for you?” her father said, appearing now to pity her more than anything.
“I do believe it,” she spat, her anger getting the best of her.
Without another word, Lord Goldman pulled the servant’s cord in the room and kept his back to her. Caroline wasn’t sure what he had planned, but she was startled when Mr Westley came hurrying into the room.
“Yes, my Lord?” the butler asked with a bow.
“Summon Mr William Randel to the sitting room,” Lord Goldman said without looking at the older man. Caroline stared at his back as she waited for the butler to leave.
“What do you plan to do, Father?” Caroline asked, his answer already sending waves of fear crashing into her body.
“What is best,” was all that he replied with.
Footsteps could be heard in the hallway and Caroline felt her heart pounding against her chest as she looked at the sitting room door. When Mr Westley appeared once more with William, a part of her wanted to throw herself at him and beg that he take her far away from her home so they could finally be together. She looked at William and couldn’t even muster a smile.
“You’ve requested my presence, my Lord?” William said as he looked away from Caroline and towards his master, bowing lowly.
Lord Goldman finally faced the man and came closer before stating, “As of this moment, you are no longer employed here. Gather your things and leave at once. I’ll have a letter of recommendation sent to your abode.”
“Father, don’t do this. William needs the money for his ill father,” Caroline quickly spoke up.
“You’ve given me no other choice, Caroline. I will not allow this relationship to continue. A recommendation letter will be enough to see him situated in another house,” Lord Goldman said, his voice growing louder once more.
“Since I am no longer a member of your household,” William said as he caught Lord Goldman’s attention. “I ask for your permission to marry Miss Caroline. I know I don’t have much to offer her, but I love her truly.”
Caroline felt her heart fill with pride for William, that he was willing to speak to her father directly. And a deep hope swelled in Caroline’s chest as she waited for her father’s reply.
“I do not judge your character, Mr Randel, simply your ability to provide for my daughter. I will not give you permission,” Lord Goldman said before dipping his head.
William bowed in return, even though Caroline could see how red his face was quickly turning. He then came towards Caroline and she thought he would embrace her. But instead, he bowed to her before leaving the room.
Caroline was stunned as she listened to his footsteps fade away in the distance. Tears started to pool in her eyes as she looked at her father, then her mother. And when Lady Goldman stood in an attempt to embrace her daughter, Caroline held up her hands and took several steps back.
“I can’t believe you’d do this to me,” she spoke to her father before she quickly left the sitting room, hurrying towards the stairs once more.
“Caroline!” her mother called after her, but she didn’t halt in her progress towards her bedchamber. Nothing her mother could say to her would take any of the pain out of her body, and Caroline felt her heart break as she stumbled up the stairs. Once she reached the upper floor, she pulled up the hem of her gown as she ran down the hallway, slamming the door to her bedchamber shut behind her.
Once it was locked, Caroline hurried over to her bed and climbed under the covers, wanting to shield herself from the world. She clung to her pillow, sobs racking her body, and she wished she was embracing William. She knew she wouldn’t be able to go on without him and prayed for an answer to her problems. The tears never seemed to stop.
Chapter 7
William didn’t bother saying goodbye to anyone. By this time in the evening, most of the servants had either retired to their bedrooms or had gone home for the night. He was just out the door when Mr Westley came looking for him. And once he heard that Lord Goldman had requested to speak to him, William already knew the reason behind the summons.
As soon as Caroline had denied Lord Canton, the news had swept through the house like wildfire. At first, William had been pleased beyond belief that Caroline hadn’t accepted the man’s offer of marriage. And when the celebration cake hadn’t been served, the servants all got to try a bite instead, which made William happy. But as the night drew on and the rest of the meal was served, William wondered what was going to happen next. When he returned to the dining hall to serve the last course, she was no longer present in the room and all the guests were talking quite rapidly.
After the dinner, all the guests had left out of respect to Lord Canton. Most of the servants were pleased because they got to go home early or retire for the night. But William had stayed behind just a little bit longer, taking the time to help put away all the silver and prepare for the next day. And just when William had gone to change into his normal clothes, Mr Westley had come for him.
Now, William was quick to change out of his uniform, even taking the time to fold it and set it on the bed. Mr. Westley then followed him down the hallway once he left the room so that he could ensure that William didn’t leave anything behind or try to take anything with him. The butler even went as far to follow him to the servant’s stables.
“I just don’t understand, William. You had the makings for such a great steward one day. Why did you have to pay Miss Caroline so much attention?” Mr Westley asked once they stepped into the barn together.
“I fell in love,” William said as he began to saddle his horse, the stable boys all having gone for the night. “We fell in love so quickly that I never thought anything wrong could ever come from it.”
“Ach, my lad. You have much to learn about life. Love can be such a confusing thing. It would have been better for you if you’d kept your mouth shut.”
