Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
“Treat this house well, and she will treat you well,” Edmund’s father said as he and Edmund’s mother were about to leave on their fatal trip. They were standing in the garden, looking at the manor house. It loomed above them.
“The staff keeps the house clean,” Edmund said.
His father smirked.
“That’s not what I mean, and you are old enough now to understand it.
This is your home, Edmund. It has housed your family for generations, and I hope it will continue to house them for generations to come.
Every tree must have its roots deep underground, anchoring it in one place.
No matter how large it grows, it can always be traced back to that one single point in the ground, connected to where it all began as a seedling. We are just like that.”
Edmund furrowed his brow.
“But you and mother go away all the time. I want to go away, too. It’s dull here. The people are all the same, and I tire of the same sights. I feel as though I am living the same day over and over again.”
His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I, too, felt the same way once, but do you know what changed?”
“You ventured out into the world and saw amazing places.”
“True, but that’s not what brought a sense of unpredictability to my life.
That happened with your mother, and with you children.
Since you all came into my life, nothing is ever the same.
Of all I have accomplished, having a family is the thing of which I am most proud, and you three children are a greater legacy than anything else I could achieve.
I hope that it will be the same for you one day.
I hope that you will know the joy of having children running about this house, filling it with their laughter and their questions. ”
“I want to explore the world, like you.”
“And you will. I promise. You are soon to finish your schooling, and then you will be able to go out in the world and learn far more than you ever could from textbooks.”
“If you think it so useless, then why was I ever forced to take lessons in the first place?”
“Because the world demands certain things of us. There is order, there are expectations, and the lessons you’ve learned will give you a good grounding.
The exams you passed are proof to others that you have a certain grasp of knowledge that will enable them to trust you if you seek their partnership.
We always have to make compromises, Edmund, but we take what we can, when we can. ”
“So I shall be able to come with you next time, you promise?” Edmund asked, his eyes shining.
His father turned to face him and looked him squarely in the eyes.
“I swear it, Edmund. I have already planned the next expedition. I think you shall enjoy it. We shall be venturing into the darkest parts of the African jungle to catalog some plants that nobody has ever seen before. It’s my hope that you will discover one and name it after yourself.
That’s what all great explorers get to do,” he said, smiling.
Edmund smiled too. He loved the idea of hacking his way through the jungle, a new sight greeting him around every corner.
“All I ask is that you be patient, Edmund. You have always been in a hurry to grow up. I remember that you walked before you could crawl, and as soon as you could balance on two feet, you were trying to run. But be patient. Life will come to you if you let it, and you will get everything you desire. Your mother and I will be glad to have you with us on our expeditions. Just wait until next year.”
“It seems like an awfully long time,” Edmund said.
“I know, but it will pass swiftly, as though you have simply blinked. In the meantime, you must care for Charlotte and Lydia in our absence. Do not take this duty lightly, Edmund. You, children, are the most precious things to your mother and me, and we would not trust you to just anyone. You should be proud of the fact that we are leaving them in your care.”
“I shall never let them down, Father,” Edmund said in a solemn tone, straightening his back. At the time, he did not necessarily feel the weight of the responsibility pressing upon his shoulders, but he soon would.
“Good lad, Edmund. I am proud of you, and I am proud of the man you are growing into. You are going to accomplish great things in this life, I am sure of it,” he said, squeezing Edmund’s shoulder.
It was the last meaningful thing Edmund’s father ever said to him.
“He always calms down in your arms, Edmund,” Charlotte said.
She had stopped by with Luke, interrupting Edmund’s day, although it was a welcome interruption.
Edmund stared at his nephew, still impossibly small even though he had grown a lot since birth.
Luke’s eyes were closed, and his lips were parted.
Snuffling breaths rolled out of his mouth.
Edmund and Charlotte spoke in low tones so as not to disturb him.
Edmund was rocking back and forth gently, wondering how something this small could grow into a man.
“I shall try not to take it as an insult. Hopefully, in the future, he shall find me more exciting.”
“I am sure you will make many fond memories together.”
“I cannot wait until he’s old enough to learn how to play cards. I just know that a lot of people are going to underestimate him. He’ll leave a great many people with egg on their faces,” Edmund grinned.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
“You might have to clear that with Nathaniel first. I am not sure he will approve of his child visiting the clubs you frequent. I am not sure I do either.”
“The boy has to get an education in every avenue of life. Better he take advantage of people than have people take advantage of him,” Edmund said.
Charlotte pursed her lips and wore a look that suggested she did not agree, although she declined to continue the argument for now. Edmund pressed his fingers into the child’s body, feeling the weight of Luke, staring at the possibility locked within that tiny, scrunched up face.
“Isn’t it strange to think that one day we were as small as this?” Edmund said.
“Indeed. He has no idea of the life that awaits him.”
“It will be a grand one. We’ll all make certain of it,” he said.
For a moment, he felt some hesitation flash in his mind.
If he went through with leaving for a time, he would miss Luke growing up.
He would leave when Luke was a baby, and when he returned?
Well, Luke could be strapping like his father, fiercely intelligent like his mother.
“Does it make you consider having one of your own?” Charlotte asked, her question snapping him out of his thoughts. He stared at her and felt heat rising to his cheeks. He marched over to her and gently placed Luke in her arms.
“Certainly not. Far better to be an uncle and enjoy the child for short periods. As soon as he tantrums I can hand him back,” he said flippantly, with an arch of his eyebrow. Charlotte shook her head and kissed Luke on the forehead.
“It might do you well, Edmund. I was convinced I did not want this life for myself, but now that I have it, I couldn’t imagine things being any other way.”
“That’s grand for you, Charlotte.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you would make an excellent father.”
Edmund’s throat ran dry. He turned away from Charlotte as a mist filled his eyes. He kept his thoughts private, not wishing to share them with anyone, not even his sister.
The thing about fathers is that they can leave, whether they’re excellent or not.
He did not wish for history to repeat itself, but he could not risk that it would.
“I am excellent at everything else, so it’s only natural to assume I would be excellent at fatherhood as well. But it’s probably for the best. I would not want to outdo Nathaniel. I know how brooding he can be when he loses.”
Edmund managed to quell the maudlin emotions that threatened to overwhelm them. He masked them, as he had done so many times before, with his boyish, mischievous smirk, treating all the world as a joke because if he did, then nothing could hurt him.
“Believe me, Edmund, it is not Nathaniel that will lose in this situation,” Charlotte said quietly, still staring at the miracle she held in her arms. Something shifted in Edmund’s stomach. Charlotte would never know how deeply her words cut him, but there was nothing to be done about it.
Nothing at all.
“I must go and attend to the arrangements for the party,” he said, clipping his heels together and bowing before he left the room.
Edmund and George were walking briskly through the house.
“We must have only the most agreeable and pleasant people at the party, George. As I said, I do not want any bores.”
“Of course, Your Grace, although I did notice that you invited Leopold Johnson. Given his recent, ah, misdemeanor, are you sure that’s wise?”
“Leo? Oh yes, that was just a misunderstanding, not a misdemeanor. He’s always a good laugh. You can’t have a party without Leo. Make sure he attends,” Edmund said.
“Very well, Your Grace,” George said, although he looked as though he had aged dramatically in that single moment.
“And we must have the most wonderful food as well. Pheasant, I like pheasant and duck. In fact, get all the birds. They shall wing their way into our mouths. Stuffed mushrooms and peppers as well. I do like it when food is stuffed into other food. I want them fit to burst! Isn’t it marvelous what cooks can do with food? ”
“Indeed, it is Your Grace. I shall pass this on to her as soon as possible.”
“And for dessert, we must have towering cakes. I was at a ball recently where the cake was five tiers. I want six, no, seven. Eight if possible. And they should be all different types of cake. Lemon, vanilla, chocolate, oh… what other flavors are there?”
“Carrot, Your Grace.”
Edmund looked at George, his face a picture of shock. “Carrot? Vegetables do not belong in cakes. My goodness, have you lost your mind? Are we supposed to serve gravy with it rather than cream?”
“My apologies, Your Grace. I am sure the cook will know better.”
“I certainly hope so,” Edmund rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It shall be a cake surprise. How wonderful. And get her to fashion whatever exotic or exciting things she’s heard of recently. I want people to taste things at my party that they have never tasted before.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“They shall be as stuffed as the fowls by the time they leave,” Edmund said, then quickly turned on his heels, pointing to the hallways.
“Now, I want grand tapestries hanging from the ceilings. Every room should have plentiful amounts of wine, brandy, and the like. We shall set up card tables in some rooms, and other rooms shall be used for conversations. Make sure there is plenty of powder on hand for the ladies, as well.”
“As you wish. Is there—”
“And the music, we must not forget the music! Make sure they play fun, jaunty tunes. I don’t want to hear any dirges. Nobody must leave this party feeling sorrowful.”
“I am sure that would be quite impossible, Your Grace. You have taken care of everything, and I am sure all your guests will feel like one of the family. But might I ask, are there any special arrangements you wish to make for the guest of honor?”
Edmund paused. He rubbed his hands together, looking at everything but George, as if he were thinking about the decorations.
Instead, he was thinking about Rose. This would be their fourth promenade.
At first, he said he would take this seriously, even though he had no intention of allowing their relationship to last beyond the agreed number of promenades.
Still, I want this party to be perfect.
He wanted this to be perfect, not just for his reputation, but for her. He wanted to show her that she could enjoy a party like this and that it wasn’t simply some frivolous event that interrupted nobler pursuits.
And he was certain that she would enjoy it, because while she had been riding, he had seen a different side to her.
She was not a common bore at all. The more time he spent with her, the more he realized that there was some spark of excitement flickering within her.
If he could fan this flame before he was done, then perhaps he could be satisfied with his work.
Although as he walked around the house, he noticed all the nooks and crannies where they could hide, the walls that would squeeze them together, and the expectation that they would spend most of the night together.
“No, no special arrangements, George. I shall endeavor to be the perfect host and the perfect gentleman. That shall have to be perfect enough,” Edmund replied.
George nodded and hurried to speak with the housekeeper, the cook, and everyone else who would work to make sure Edmund’s wishes were fulfilled.
Edmund stood at the end of a long hallway and imagined Rose standing at the other end.
He thought about what dress she might wear and how she might style her hair.
He thought of her smile, her laugh, and her fiery words whenever she got annoyed, which was often, at least with him.
A smile curled upon his lips, and although he would not admit it to himself, he was looking forward to this party not just for frivolity’s sake, but also because it was another opportunity to see Rose again.
He would not have forever with her, so he wanted to make the most of their time together. There were moments when he sensed intimacy between them, when he saw a certain glint in her eyes or was captivated by the bewitching movements of her lips.
He’d warned her not to fall for him; otherwise, he would end their arrangement immediately. But was it he who felt the stirrings of attraction toward her? Was it he who was in danger of shattering every oath he had sworn to himself?
Edmund clenched his fists, spun on his heel, and walked away from the long hallway. He refused to let himself be compromised this way. The party would be fun, and Rose would never be able to turn her nose up at the entertainment he offered. That dainty, delicate nose…
His thoughts threatened to drift away again.
“George!” he cried out, rushing after the butler, trying to distract himself by getting more involved with the plans.