Lothar had asked his mother to join him as Gemma’s mother had expressed her desire to meet. Lothar looked at his mother who had finally emerged from the house dressed and ready to leave.
Lothar had wished he had brought something for the children. He could remember what it felt like to grow up with few toys andamusement. His father had taught him how to carve toys from wood the moment he had been old enough to safely handle a blade.
I shall find out what each of the children’s favorite animal is and bring it to them the next time I go with Gemma to see them.Lothar thought as he started to get more excited. Every moment they traveled, he was closer to being with Gemma.
He could barely sit still when they arrived at the Castwell residence. The moment the carriage stopped, Lothar was already half out of the door, only stopping for a moment to help his mother get out too.
They walked toward the Castwell family who stood waiting to greet them.
“It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Thank you so much for having us here today,” his mother said, with a warm smile.
“It is our pleasure, Lady Howard,” her father began. “It is marvelous to make your acquaintance.”
“Please would you join us for tea?” Gemma’s mother asked.
“I would love to,” Lothar’s mother replied, as she walked with them inside the estate.
Lothar turned to Gemma with a smile that made her stomach flutter.
“Would you like to go meet the children, Your Grace?” Gemma asked him.
“Gladly! After you, My Lady,” Lothar replied.
Had she always looked so beautiful?Lothar thought as he moved towards her.She has struck me with her beauty since we met that day at the shop.
The sun shone like molten gold in her hair. Yet, I look into her eyes and only now notice the tiniest, almost unnoticeable flecks of brown in her eyes.
He could not tear his eyes away from her. He felt as though he had seen her properly for the first time.
What did I ever see in Henny? Especially when I have this angelic being before me.His mind cast him to his younger years. Ten years ago, at eighteen years of age, he had thought marriage to be the worst idea ever. His parents had a healthy marriage, yet it had not appealed to him in the slightest.
Then when his father had passed, he had taken on the role of man of the house. He had done his best to work hard to ensure his mother and sisters were well taken care of. He had just managed to get on his feet, when his uncle had passed, and left him an estate that had put a permanent hole in his pocket. His decision not to marry had to be overturned to do the right thing—now that he was the new duke.
While his friends had gone to college and had started families, he had learned which fork to start his meal with and how to conduct himself inhis new role. He had quickly realized that he was falling behind and had started to pursue Henny.
In his youthful arrogance, he had believed that it was only a matter of time before she would come round and want to be married to him. He could not understand why she would not want to. They had known each other since they were children. They had grown from best friends into having a relationship that seemed to be the one that would last all his life.
Every time she had ignored him or had treated him poorly, he had brushed it off and reasoned that it was only a passing female mood swing every time. He had, over time become used to how things were and had often reminded himself that Henny was his only option. If she would not marry him then surely no woman would.
Now as he walked proudly beside Gemma he felt as though the heavens itself had given him one of their own.
“These children have been through a lot, Your Grace. Their entire family passed awayleaving them without anyone to look after them,” Gemma explained.
“That is tragic,” Lothar replied. He felt grateful he still had his mother, and that his father was in his life until he was in his teens. “It is good of you to have taken them in.”
“It was what anyone should have done,” Gemma replied. They walked further in silence until they came to a clearing that had a log cabin built on it. It looked new which meant it had been built recently.
Gemma even built house for the children. She genuinely takes pleasure in helping others. How long would I have been waiting for Henny if Gemma had not been in Mr. and Mrs. Baker’s shop that day? I would have let the years pass and the estate goes to ruins.Lothar decided on the spot that Henny had no place in his life and certainly not in his thoughts.
Lothar could not help but laugh at the scene in front of him. The moment the children had laid eyes on Gemma, they had run over to her and embraced her.
She would make the most amazing mother,Lothar thought with joy.
The children all looked to Lothar in silence. He crouched down to make himself look less intimidating.
“Good morning,” Lothar said softly and smiled. To his relief the children approached him. At first, they seemed apprehensive. Then slowly they came closer to greet Lothar.
“Good morning,” The smallest girl said. The other children remained quiet.
