Once, just once, could she not have said yours at the end of her letter? Could she not at least speak of any feelings at all that she might have for me?Lothar thought as his chest startedto hurt.Though she did marry another man, it was her duty to do so, and I had not dared to ask her hand. I only have myself to blame.
A knock at the door dismissed his thoughts. “Come in,” Lothar yelled towards the door. “Mother,” Lothar said and stood up when his mother came into his study. “Allow me,” he added, pulling out a chair for her.
“Lothar, I expect you to give the matchmaker a fair chance. I understand how you feel about Henny, my dear boy, but you know you are worth a woman who will have at least as much loyalty as you do. I expect to see Miss Castwell here for tea in the next two weeks. Do we have an understanding?” Violet said in a loving yet firm manner that let him know what was expected of him.
“I should give other ladies a chance. If they also reject me, it will be clear that I am unsuited for marriage,” Lothar answered.
“Nonsense. You may be my son, yet I can see both your faults, which are few, and your plenty of merits. You are a fine young man, and it baffles me why any woman would not see that.” Violet said more gently.
“You are my mother. You must say things like that,” Lothar replied with a smile.
“Granted, I am biased. Though you truly are a good man, Lothar. You took this broken place and made something of it. You have made sure we had a roof over our heads and that all the workers got their wages to feed their families.” Violet said as she reached over the desk to take his hands in hers.
“It was simply what needed to be done,” Lothar said, shaking his head.
“Yes, it needed doing. Your uncle, my brother, was less inclined to that way of thinking. It would have been easy for you to do the same. You took the more difficult path, and that makes you a better man. That is one of the many reasons I want you to try to find someone who is as good as you are,” Violet said with a smile, though her eyes were worried.
“I did say that I would give this a fair chance,” Lothar replied.
“And you will go to Miss Castwell’s father and seek permission?” Violet said with suspicion.
“Yes, as I have stated, I will do as you as ask,” Lothar said.
“Thank you. Now, you said that you met Miss Castwell this morning. What was she like?” Violet asked.
Lothar was surprised by the sudden change of topic and was unsure how to describe Miss Castwell. He thought for a moment and found himself smiling.
“Why do you ask?” Lothar said to give himself a few moments more to think.
“Mrs. Gardner made her sound unseemly. Now, as you know, I do not put a lot of stock in appearance. I am curious what you thought of her,” Violet said with a smile. Lothar knew she was more than just curious. His mother had been asking him to find a wife for the longest time. He had thought at first that she had been trying to get him and Henny together. After the last five years, he was convinced that she would prefer any woman who was not Henny Briggs.
“She has a lovely manner. Her voice is sweet but not dull. She has the most beautiful eyes, and I feel as though I could give her an embrace without snapping her in half,” Lothar said, and wondered if he had said too much.
“She has made quite an impression on you,” Violet said.
Lothar smiled and did not speak further. He was the type of person who could became quiet and contemplative.
“Right, I know when I have gotten as much from you on the subject as I will get for now,” Violet said as she stood up.Lothar did the same. The moment his mother left, he looked for writing supplies to send a letter back to Henny.
Dearest Henny
I have missed you so since we last met, and I hope you are well. I would be thrilled to join you for tea tomorrow. Furthermore, I shall be counting the hours.
Lothar
Lothar frowned down at the letter he had just penned. He had ended their correspondence with yours Lothar since their first letter to one another. This was the first one that he had ended in his name, as she had.
He still felt the same way about her as he had all those years. Perhaps her lack of affection had finally become too much to bear. Lothar decided to send the letter as it was. He went to the kitchen to find the same man who had given him Henny’s letter. He handed the man the letter and knew he would be off to her estate to deliver it to a staff member at the Whitcomb estate.
He would usually feel elated that he was going to see Henny soon. It would be the only thing he could think of. It would consume his every thought. Now, as he looked out the study window that looked out onto the lands, he found his thoughts going to Miss Castwell. He knew he could make hisestate a more worthy place for her, the place a wonderful lady like her deserved.
He could remember her in vivid detail, which was rare. Lothar did not easily remember a face or a name, and he had committed Gemma to his memory.
He wondered when he could go see her father and make arrangements to start their courtship.
I could learn to love her if she would do the same, though I may not be able to love her the way I loved Henny. Furthermore, I will give her everything I have and protect her. Likewise, I do like the idea of becoming a father.Lothar was deep in thought for a while before he realized he had not given Henny so much as another thought.
He smiled, thinking how the tea with Henny might be interesting.Would she care that I am planning to court another?
