Page 39 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
Chapter 21
William was reading over a few business letters when the sound of someone knocking on the open study door brought his eyes up to the sight of his father standing in the doorway. The older man smirked at him as he came in and sat in one of the chairs in front of the mahogany desk.
Bookshelves lined the inside of the study, yet very few of them were currently in use. Sunlight pulled in from the window behind William, providing ample reading light. It felt good on his back when his heart was hurting for Caroline.
“How is your maiden doing this morning?” his father asked. William set the letter aside and focused solely on his father, sighing heavily as he did so.
“She looked like a ghost of herself, Father. At first, I feared she wouldn’t recognise me. She took a moment to even acknowledge me,” William explained.
“Grief has a way of making people do strange things.”
William nodded, knowing how sick his own father became after his mother had passed away.
“I understand her situation. I just wish I could do more for her.”
“When is the funeral for her parents?”
“I’m not sure. I plan to write to Lord Murphy at some point today for the details. It seems that he has taken on the role of guardian and will be caring for Caroline till she is married,” William explained.
“At least someone stepped up for the young lady. It would be terrible if it had been Lord Canton who had made such an offer.”
“I agree. I’m simply going through the post now, but plan to bring to Lord Murphy’s attention the type of person Lord Canton really is. I may have lost my opportunity to speak to Lord Goldman about such things, but I will not lose hope that one day I’ll be able to marry Caroline.”
“Never give up on true love, my boy. It’s worth the effort in the long run,” his father said, a smile appearing on his face.
“I just hope she’ll have me,” William confessed, speaking his deepest fears out loud.
“She will have you, don’t worry about that. I did see the way she watched you the other night at the dinner party. She’s in love with you as much as the day you two were separated.”
“I appreciate your support, Father. All these years, you’ve encouraged me to keep striving, and now it seems we have everything we could ever want for.”
“Ironic how Lord Canton’s plan to push you two away only caused the opposite. He certainly wasn’t expecting you to be so smart with that money.”
William chuckled as he nodded, knowing that it was Lord Canton’s biggest downfall. “All right, Father,” he said, “leave me for a time. I shall join you for the dinner meal but must attend to these matters of business. All looks well, and I want it to remain so,” William said as he picked up his stack of letters and began to look through them once more.
“I’m proud of you, William,” his father said as he stood from the chair. “It’s good to have you home and seeing you work hard.”
“Thank you, Father. You know, I didn’t just do this for Caroline. I did it for all of us.”
“Don’t worry, son. I know you did. And I know for certain your mother would be so proud of the fine young man you’ve become today.”
The words had William’s eyes tearing up. It was a mighty thing for his father to say, and as he reached for his handkerchief once his father left the study, he remembered that he had given it to Caroline. Just the thought of her calmed his body as he rubbed his eyes on the back of his hand and turned them towards the letters. He would continue to succeed at all costs.
~*~
“Please, have a seat.” Lord Murphy gestured to one of the wing-backed chairs in front of the fireplace, where several candles were lit. A row of large windows made up the far wall, allowing Caroline to see into the gardens surrounding the townhouse. She was starting to think a nice walk would ease her pains, but her attention was soon focused on Lord Murphy as he took to the chair across from her.
“There are a few things I must discuss with you. I had informed your father’s solicitor of my decision to be guardian for you yesterday as soon as Lord Canton told us the news. Last night, his assistant did deliver to me your father’s personal papers, such as his will,” Lord Murphy explained.
Caroline stiffened, wondering what her father would have wanted for her upon his death. “Please, share with me the details. I’m sure it will be published soon in the papers to make it official.”
“Indeed, I expect as soon as tomorrow. That is why I wanted to warn you now of some of the details. When it comes to your father’s title and estates, they have all been detailed to pass to your husband. I can only assume that Lord Goldman never expected to pass so suddenly,” Lord Murphy explained.
“But I am not married,” Caroline reasoned.
“Not yet, anyways. You have secured yourself to Lord Canton by accepting his offer of marriage. The engagement has already been posted in the papers with a date set at the end of the summer. However, it won’t stop other gentlemen from trying to convince you to break that engagement to marry them instead, in hopes of gaining your father’s title and extensive wealth.”
“I see,” Caroline said with a nod. “That sounds all very overwhelming.”
