“Good morning, Lothar. How are you?” His mother asked.
“Well, thank you, Mother, and yourself?” Lothar replied.
“I have no qualms. I was just about to come see if you had returned from town. The pantry is not looking so well,” his mother reported in a grave tone.
“I am doing my best, mother,” Lothar said with a smile. A smile that faded at her next words.
“It does not seem as though you are, my boy. What is this I hear about you being seen with Henny?” His mother asked in the same tone she had used since he was a young boy. He was truly in trouble with her.
“I simply met her in town and just as well that I did. I ran into Miss Castwell,” Lothar said, and was relieved to see his mother’s face light up with joy.
“What happened?” His mother asked.
“Well as I did mention before she had seemed different. I asked that we make a new start, and she asked for time to think about it,” Lothar answered.
“You would almost surely be planning your wedding by now if you had only listened about Henny.” His mother’s tone warned that he had upset her.
“That is not for certain, mother,” Lothar added gently as he tried to calm her.
“Perhaps. I wish you would see that all Henny has done and is still doing, is keeping you from being happy. That is all I have wanted for you, Lothar,” his mother said, sounding more emotional than she usually was.
“As I wish for you to be happy mother, I apologize if I have upset you. Henny was a big part of my life, my first love. It is not as simple as forgetting about her,” Lothar replied.
“I think that it is that simple, and that you should do so. That woman is no longer part of your life.” Lothar may be the head of the household but, when his mother had her final word on a matter, it was the end of the debate.
Lothar smiled as he did not feel his usual response of coming to Henny’s defense. He smiled at his mother. “Mother, would you please contact Mrs. Gardner. I would like to knowhow I can really make Gemma mine. Flowers are fine but I want to do something special for her,” Lothar said.
“I shall contact her at once,” his mother replied with an approving nod. Lothar had not seen this much enthusiasm from his mother in a while. He felt more and more as though he had made the correct decision.
Henny will have to understand that it is time for me to find happiness. If she had truly wanted me then she would have not married another man or have strung me along all these years. If only you had not made me a laughing stock. No that is not true. There is no chance for us anymore and I pray it is not the same with Gemma,Lothar thought.
Waiting to hear what Gemma’s would decide was as filled with torment as knowing he had caused her pain. He had been unsure how to be around her when she had seemed unlike herself. Now he knew that he might have been the cause for her change in behavior in the first place. He had not considered how this must feel to her. She had told him she did not seek marriage and just after that he had gone to see her father.
There is no end to the ways I have treated Gemma unfairly.
Chapter 13
While Gemma might have expected Lothar to find her, she had definitely not expected him to take responsibility for how he had disregarded her wishes. She had most certainly not expected him to kiss her and to tell her that as his wife she would be allowed to be who she wanted to be.
It seems too good to be the truth. Things are rarely ever this simple,Gemma thought as she tried to get ready for dinner. Today had been one of the most remarkable days she had experienced. Not the least of it being that she now saw Lothar in a different light. His words felt as though they were from the heart. She was afraid he was still not able to care for her like he did the baroness.
Any person with eyes could see how much he still cared for her.
If I am to marry someone. It will most certainly not be as second best. It does not matter that he claims it is not so, I am no second best!Gemma thought as she tried to focus still on getting Lothar to not want to marry her. It had now gone from a simple idea to her purpose in life.
All she had to do was to deny him the opportunity to court her further. If he then went against her wishes once again thenshe would have little choice but to tell her father about what she had witnessed and how she truly felt on the matter.
He had seemed more open and honest. Instead of pretending he had not accompanied the baroness, he had opted to explain why he had done so. Would he truly allow her the freedom she craved? If his sister had duties then surely as his wife, there would be expectations as well.Gemma’s thoughts whirled in her head.
“My Lady?” Ashley’s voice broke into her thoughts and brought Gemma back to the present.
“Good evening, Ashley,” Gemma said with a welcoming smile.
“My Lady, pardon the interruption. His Grace wishes to know if you are free. He would like to go on a walk, My Lady,” Ashley explained.
The man really is the most impatient…
“Thank you, Ashley. You may tell him I’m free but for the shortest time,” Gemma said, and closed her eyes in annoyance.
