“I am not hiding, my dear. I am giving you and your mother time to get to know the man.” Andrew said with a smile.
“I know more than I need to know. “Gemma stated.
“Do not be like this. You can not know the man from only meeting him twice.” Andrew said.
“And you would throw away money that took our family generations to accumulate, just to throw a title on our name, father?” Gemma asked, already knowing the answer to her question.
“It means more than you understand to have such a title, and besides that, Lothar is a lovely man. There are far worse men to marry. He is honest and kind, and I believe he will treat you well,” he said, giving her a similar look to the one Lothar had given her earlier. She felt her willpower fade away.
“Fine, however, if it does not end in marriage, then that is just how it is,” Gemma replied.
“I think you will find different,” her father replied knowingly.
“I know you would like to think so, Father. I cannot make that promise to you,” Gemma said sincerely. She only hoped that he would listen. She disliked that her father was putting so much faith in the fact that she would marry Lothar.
“All I request is to give the man a fair chance. Even a criminal receives a fair trial. All he wants to do is steal your heart,” he said softly.
And our money!Gemma thought and tried not to be so negative.
Gemma hugged her father and returned to her mother and Lothar. Only Lothar had seemed to have left.
“He was called outside for a moment. He will be back momentarily,” her mother said, knowing her all too well. Not only had she felt disappointed not to find him here despite her annoyance at him, but it would appear that it was easily spotted in her expression.
Lothar returned with the biggest bouquet she had ever seen. He held the bunch with both hands, and it obscured his face. He walked up to Gemma and presented them to her. She had no idea how to even receive the large gift and was grateful when her father stepped in to assist.
“I will put them in water for you. I fear they might be so big that I will have to put them in the river,” her father said as he tried to be gentle and still keep his grip.
“Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you, father,” Gemma said with less than her usual enthusiasm. She was touched by the gesture, or she would be if she were not aware of the fact that he would have loved her banking details before her. “It was not necessary to get me anything,” Gemma said.
“That is exactly why I did it. If I had to, then there would be no fun in doing it,” Lothar said with a mischievous smile. Gemma could not help but find him charming.
Damn him!Gemma thought as she found she did not have to force the smile on her face.
“Gemma, may I call here tomorrow, let’s say around noon? I would very much like to spend the afternoon with you,” Lothar asked.
“That would be fine, Your Grace,” Gemma replied.
“Mr. Castwell,” Lothar said and shook his hand. “Mrs. Castwell, Gemma,” Lothar said, and took his leave.
“He is a nice man, you know,” Margaret said.
“Mother not you too? I find that my entire family is smitten with him. Why do we not introduce him to one of my single cousins rather?” Gemma said with a temper she was not used to having. So many of her emotions have felt broken since Lothar had walked into the stationers a week ago. She almost wished she had decided to go the next day and not have met him at all. almost as much as she wished she had met him sooner.
“Now dear, is that any way to speak to me?” Margaret asked. She was the kindest woman, and Gemma knew very well that she had just overstepped a boundary.
“I do apologize, Mother. No, that is not any way to speak to you,” Gemma said sheepishly.
“Is the reason for your change in mood perhaps something to do with the duke?” Margaret asked.
“Yes. I feel as though my feelings have been entirely ignored to buy a title,” Gemma said, feeling close to tears.
“My dearest girl. Your father and I have been around a bit longer than you have. We have more of an idea of how the world works. You may not get someone as caring as Lothar again. His title does thrill your father, but it is not for the reason you think it is. If your father was to pass away, then his older brothers would lay claim to our home. If you are married to a duke, then it will happen completely differently,” Margaret explained.
“You mean we shall lose our home the moment we lose father?” Gemma asked, feeling nauseated at the very thought.
“That is precisely what I mean. It will ease a burden he has had in his heart for decades, and it will not do you badly to have a life of your own,” Margaret said gently.
“I do have a life of my own,” Gemma replied, and Margaret smiled and shook her head.
