“There you are, son,” Violet said as she embraced him, and then stood back to introduce him. “Lothar, this is Mrs. Gardner. She is the finest matchmaker England has to offer. Mrs. Gardner, this is my son Lothar.”
“Your Grace, truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Mrs. Gardner said with a curtsy.
“Likewise, Mrs. Gardner,” Lothar replied, even if he was not yet sure it was.
“Do sit down.” Violet ordered rather than offered. Lothar obeyed and took a seat next to his mother. “Now Lothar, you know I have been very patient with this entire Henny situation. We need to find you a proper wife whose intentions are more apparent,” Violet added.
“We have a lovely selection of ladies that would suit a man of Lothar’s pedigree, very well, I might add,” Mrs. Gardner said with an encouraging smile. “There is Miss Miller, who comes from industry. However, her father is a Baron who does have a strong fortune. There is also Miss Clarence, who has many suitors, as she is as beautiful as she is well-off.”
“Those ladies both sound like good prospects. What do you think?” Violet asked, turning to her son. Lothar had no idea how to respond. He had always felt uncomfortable referring to getting married as more of a business arrangement than one made by choice or love.
“They sound lovely,” he replied, as he tried to at the very least not seem rude or as uninterested as he was. There was only one woman he loved and would always love. She, on the other hand, had shown less enthusiasm for his affections.
“There is one more lady that I feel obligated to inform you of. She is more of an honorable mention,” Mrs. Gardner said.
“How so?” Violet asked.
“Her father is the last born of a Baron, so he does not have the title. He has, though, done something of himself in his own right. I understand he would like his family to have more of a title as they do, as I have said, have a good fortune.
Their daughter has somewhat of an unconventional beauty. Word has it that she does not feel the need to get married. Allow me to put it this way. The Castwells are still aristocracies, and they have enough of a fortune to more than make it a good union,” Mrs. Gardner replied.
“That would lift this old place a bit. Would you not agree?” Violet asked Lothar, who seemed not to have heard her.
“Did you say Castwell?” Lothar asked.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Miss Gardner.
“Do you know the Castwells?” Violet asked Lothar.
“I met Miss Castwell this morning. Just before we left to come home,” Lothar replied and found that he was smiling.
“Would you like to approach her father? Ask if you may enter into a courtship with her?” Violet asked.
“I think that I might, yes,” Lothar replied. One of the kitchen staff knocked on the door. Lothar stood up as he knew there must be a letter for him. The kitchen staff would receive a letter from a servant of the Whitcomb household. They would deliver it to the staff at the Howard estate and then be delivered to Lothar. He would respond to Henny the same way, in reverse.
“A letter has arrived, Your Grace,” the servant said and waited for Lothar to take the letter from the silver tray he held before going back to his daily tasks.
“If it is from Henny, may I implore you to not respond to her?” Violet asked.
“Mother, you know her husband has passed. She calls if she needs help.” Lothar defended her as usual.
“I agree she needs help. However, it is not the kind you think it is,” Violet said. Her anger started to show in her voice.
“Mother! That is most unkind,” Lothar said with surprise.
“Oh Lothar, it is unkind for a woman to play with your emotions. She married someone else, someone with money, does that not tell you what type of person she is?” Violet said. The pain in her eyes upsetting him.
“I will write back or go there if it cannot wait,” Lothar said. “Good day, Mother, Mrs. Gardner.” Lothar left before there was more of an argument.
He knew he should not have been impatient with his mother. She was right, of course, and he knew she meant well.I cannot help with what my heart wants, Lothar thought as he marched to his study. The small room housed a wooden desk, a small bookshelf, and a drink cart. Lothar went to the cart to pour a double drink and swallowed it in one gulp. He broke the seal on the letter he still held and opened the letter.
Dear Lothar
I hope this letter finds you well. It has been so long since I have seen you and request your presence at lunch next week, the 5th.
Henny
Lothar read the note again and again, it would be the day after a garden party he was to attend. He read it multiple times, hoping he could find more meaning to the few choice words Henny had written to him.
