Lothar was beside himself with rage and jealousy. The time since he had seen her with that other man, was the slowest he had ever been through. Yet at the same time he had felt so hurt and rejected that he had not seen her for almost three days.
He missed her but did not want to see her with another. She had not sent word either. The puppy he had still meant to give her had grown strong and confident. Lothar wished he could say the same about his relationship with Gemma.
He had chosen Gemma, and she had seemed to have chosen him as well. Now as he stormed off, all he could imagine was what would have transpired if he had not interrupted Gemma and that man.
I could squash that greasy little man with one blow. What the heck does she see in him?Lothar thought as he tried to focus on where he was going.She had condemned me for Henny but had another man waiting.
To think I had been so eager to see Gemma and she had already forgotten about me.Lothar thought even though a niggle at the back of his mind told him something was out of place.
Lothar thought back to when he had met only the day before with her family and they had a lovely evening with her afterwards.
What could have changed in such a short time?Lothar thought as he reached his carriage. He first told the driver to take him home. Then with his thoughts still in turmoil, he asked the driver to take him to Henny instead. He hoped this would not result in an argument, if it fit then so be it.
This needs to stop. Gemma and I were perfectly happy until Henny decided she might be interested after all. I would not put it beyond Henny to have arranged the gentleman caller he just witnessed with Gemma. Still, why had she not sent him away? Why had she not kept her promise?Lothar wrestled with his thoughts till it dawned on him that they had arrived at Henny’s estate and the carriage had stopped. Lothar took a steadying breath and got out of the carriage.
Lothar made his way to the main house to find Henny sitting eating by the fire.
“Lothar, darling it is so good to see you.” Henny said as she got up from her seat to greet him.
“Why did you have to go and ruin everything for me, Henny?” Lothar said ignoring her greeting and asking the question aloud that had plagued him for weeks now.
“What did I ruin and how?” Henny said in an insolent fashion that reminded Lothar of how his younger sisters could be upset when they did not get their way. They perhaps still had an excuse as they were still children. Acting this way as a grownup was repulsive.
“Henny now is not the time to play coy with me. You have been on a mission to keep Gemma and I apart since we have started seeing one another and I want to know why.” Lothar said with deadpan expression on his face.
“Lothar, I do not have to resort to tricks. There are suitors lining up to be with me.” Henny said in a way he knew was supposed to make him jealous. In the past it may have worked on him but not anymore.
“Thatiswonderful news Henny. That means you can allow me to be happy. Especially since all I have ever done is try to make you happy. At the very least you could be a good friend to me and want me to be happy.” Lothar explained.
“I do want you to be happy Lothar. I know you will be happy with me.” Henny said. They were the exact words he had been waiting years to hear. The very words he had played out in his mind over and over every day for years.
No more!Lothar thought as he shook his head in disbelief.
“Henny we were never going to work. It was doomed from the start. I wanted you because I knew you and then because I could not have you, I know that now. You want me for the exact same reason, simply because you cannot have me now.” Lothar accused.
“What nonsense that woman has pumped into your ears. We were the best of friends Lothar, we loved one another and that does not simply go away!” Henny yelled, red-faced.
“That woman is and will always be the only woman for me. Nothing you, or anyone can do will stop us.” Lothar yelled over Henny’s whining.
“Not even her family? Or the new man in her life?” Henny said with spite.
“And how is it that you know of these things?” Lothar said walking towards her like a panther who had seen its prey.
“I have friends in all places.” Henny countered.
“No, you knew about the meeting and this man, whoever he is before this all happened. News does most definitely not travel that fast, now speak the truth.” Lothar warned.
“Lothar darling I…” Henny tried to calm him down.
“The truth Henny, now!” Lothar roared.
Henny stopped what she was about to say and looked at him in silence for a few moments before she spoke.
“Alright, if you must know. Your precious Gemma’s great-grandmother and I share a relative. We had a very long discussion about how the union between you and Miss Castwell was a terrible idea. Lothar we are meant to be together, I know you better than anyone does. All I have been doing is fighting for you, for us.” Henny said with a charming smile. Lothar felt more annoyed at her trying to soothe him than if she had just told him plainly about her betrayal.
“Henny you have never, nor will ever, fight for me or for us. You had years in which I courted you, adored you. I was here every time you called me but now it is done. I have come here only to tell you that for once and for all and, to ask you to call off your hounds and to let us be free of you,” Lothar said with a bitterness he never thought he would feel towards Henny.
He would not miss her, yet he would miss the idea of her, and that, he knew, was someone who had not even existed.
