Chapter 14
Fourteen
Alaric was just finishing his breakfast when he heard the front door to his home slamming open.
No easy feat, as the foyer was several rooms away, yet the banging of the door and the preceding footsteps, which echoed across the empty chamber of the foyer and then down the hallway, were impossible to miss.
There was no need to guess who it was, for only one man would dare to enter Alaric’s home in such an audacious manner. So Alaric remained seated at the head of the table, his eyes narrowed on the doorway through which his uncle, Lord Reginald Wolfe, swept in a moment later.
“The man of the hour,” his uncle announced, ignoring entirely the glare he was fixed with. “A little late to be breaking your fast, isn’t it?”
“I was not aware that I was on the clock.”
His uncle scoffed. “A good thing, perhaps. I am yet to eat…” He looked about the empty breakfast room. “Is this castle tended to by ghosts? Where are your staff?”
“Hiding from you, if they have any sense about them.”
Another dismissive scoff. “And you wonder why I never visit.”
“I wish that were the case,” Alaric said. “Yet, here you are.”
Alaric’s relationship with his uncle had always been a tense one.
The man was too much like Alaric’s father, too sure of himself, too arrogant and self-possessed.
Cold. Dispassionate. Caring for nobody and nothing, outside of how it affected him, he was not a man born to be loved or even liked. Not that he gave a damn.
The way he entered Alaric’s home just now was a perfect example of this temperament.
It was not his home, nor had it ever been, yet he acted as if it was, convinced that he had every right to storm through its halls and make demands because he was the only remaining member of the family who had anything resembling a social standing.
And this, as he always said, was all that mattered.
Indeed, his entire life had been dedicated to fighting against the rumors about Alaric, which threatened to all but destroy their family name. Such that this marriage, where it was not his idea, was perhaps the one time his uncle had ever appeared proud of Alaric. And if not proud, relieved.
“Wait here,” Lord Wolfe commanded. “I will be right back…” He swept from the breakfast room and toward the kitchens.
Alaric groaned and thought for a moment to simply leave, for he did not appreciate being given commands in his own home. Yet he knew that to do so would make no difference, and his uncle would simply find him wherever he went. So, best to remain and get whatever this was over with.
A few minutes later, his uncle returned, followed by a member of staff to whom his uncle dictated his dietary concerns.
Once that was done, the staff member hurried back to the kitchens to produce the order.
He sat himself ponderously down by Alaric, groaning as his large body sank into the chair, which itself creaked and cracked under the man’s weight.
“You surprise me,” Lord Wolfe began. “Something that is getting harder and harder to do at my age.”
“I would say I am glad to hear it,” Alaric responded. “But you know I care little about what you think.”
Lord Wolfe narrowed his eyes. “I am aware of that. If you did, you wouldn’t have married in the first place – you were never meant to,” he snapped.
“After the disaster that was your first marriage…” He shuddered purposefully, and Alaric stiffened, clenching his hands and gritting his teeth as a warning against himself not to let his uncle’s word upset him. “We had agreed you would not.”
“Forgive me if I don’t take orders from you.”
“It is not about taking orders,” Lord Wolfe continued, still visibly annoyed.
“It is about doing what is right. Your father…” A shake of the head.
“The pains he went through to build a legacy that you could be proud of. Discipline. Propriety. Dammit, before you went and caused havoc, our name was one of the most respected in all of London. And then you…” His lip curled.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter now, does it.
What is done is done. It took me years to clean up your mess. And do I hear any thanks? Ha!”
It was an old conversation, the complaints made and heard many times over.
Where Alaric had been happy to lock himself away after his wife’s death, and then after his father’s especially, Lord Wolfe had worked tirelessly to lessen the scandal such incidents caused.
The effect of this was debatable, but as he would tell it, his actions had ensured that Alaric and the Ravencourt name were ones not destined for ignominy.
“Is that why you have come here? To rehash old complaints? Or were you bored and thought you’d double down on your opinions of my new marriage?”
“Come here to waste my time, you mean.”
“On that we can both agree,” Alaric said. “The marriage has happened. There is nothing to be done. And to be perfectly honest, the more that it upsets you, the more joy I find that I take from it.” He chuckled mockingly. “So please, tell me again how I have disappointed you.”
Lord Wolfe curled his lip further. “I am not here for that.”
“Then why are you here, Uncle? Is it to waste the time of my staff?”
“As much as it pains me to admit, I am here to congratulate you.”
That had Alaric frowning with bewilderment. “Excuse me?”
“Surprised?” Lord Wolfe chuckled. “Surely, no more surprised than I am. You cannot imagine the shock that roiled me when I learned of the impression your presence left on the Whitcombe Ball. The truth of it is that I was not entirely certain that attending was the smart idea – I know I pushed for it. But where you are concerned…” He scoffed and shook his head.
“It was as likely to do more harm than good. You do seem to have that effect on people.”
Alaric wasn’t surprised in the least. He thought back to that night, as he had done so many times since then, allowing the softest of smiles as he remembered how much he had enjoyed himself.
Laughing. Dancing. Taking pleasure in Clara’s company.
It was the best night he had lived in longer than he could remember. And clearly, the ton had taken notice.
Not that this was necessarily good news. Better that the ton was glad to see me leave, wishing for nothing to do with me again. It would be easier that way.
“I did as you asked,” he said simply. “And I am so happy to hear that my actions pass your ever-so strict levels of appraisal.”
“They did more than that,” Lord Wolfe continued, ignoring the sarcasm in Alaric’s voice. “As people have been telling it, you were a different man. And your wife too, she was said to be happy and even pleased to be with you.” He laughed at the thought. “Truly, I did not think you had it in you.”
“I am glad to serve,” Alaric said. “And if you’re here to sing my praises, I thank you for it. Now, if that is all….” Alaric looked pointedly toward the door.
“Oh no,” Lord Wolfe said with laughter. “You will not rid yourself of me yet. If that was the only reason I needed to see you, I would have sent a letter. Saved me making the journey.”
“What then?”
“So eager to see the back of me, are you?”
“You have no idea just how much.”
Lord Wolfe’s eyes flashed as if he enjoyed the antipathy that his nephew showed him. Likely, he did. “I came here to tell you that while I am impressed with the effort you have made, it is not nearly enough. Not by half.”
“What do you mean? I did as you asked.”
“And as I said, it was well done. One single evening, and you did much to scrub away the stink that your marriage has created. But such is the squalor you have found yourself in, there are still those who do not believe it. I have heard many a whisper that the night was performative and nothing more.”
“What do I care what people think?” Alaric dismissed.
“Oh, I know you do not care.” Lord Wolfe leveled him with a firm, warning gaze.
“But I do. Everything I have ever done is for this family, Alaric, and if you think I am going to stop now…” He scoffed.
“You do not know me nearly as well as you think you do. You and your wife need to be seen again. You need to affirm without question that this marriage is a happy one.”
“I need to do no such thing.”
“Be reasonable,” Lord Wolfe snapped. “For once in your life –” He caught his tongue as his anger began to rise. “I am not asking you to fall in love with her. Dammit, that is the last thing I wish for. We all know how that ends,” he added with an amused chuckle.
Alaric’s body stiffened again, and he growled at his uncle in warning. He let his uncle get away with much, as he still respected the man and what he did for this family. But he would only be pushed so hard.
“Careful,” Lord Wolfe warned him. “You know what I say is true.”
“If that is the case, then you, of all people, should be warning me against taking Clara out for a second time. Why risk it?”
“Clara…” Lord Wolfe frowned and studied Alaric closely now. Brow furrowed, he pushed his lips together in thought… his face dropping with realization as a thought took hold. “Oh, no. Alaric, do not tell me…” A shake of the head. “You are not falling for your wife, are you?”
“Of course not,” Alaric said a little too quickly.
“You better not be,” Lord Wolfe said. “That is the last thing we need. All I want from you is the appearance of happiness. What happens behind closed doors…” He looked about.
“Best that I not know, truth be told. But you will do this, Alaric. There is a garden party in two days, to be hosted by Lord and Lady Merryweather. It is a perfect opportunity for the two of you to be seen.”
“And if I do not want to be seen?”
He shrugged. “Have we not just been over this? It is not a conversation, Alaric. It needs to be done. If not for me…” He made sure to be looking right at Alaric. “For your father. I think we can both agree you owe him that much.”
Alaric grimaced, for he knew it to be true.
He hated his father more than even his uncle might realize.
For how he was raised. For what happened with Helena.
For the man he was today. Even still… There is a part of me that will always be his son, that scared little boy desperate to appease him.
I don’t know if I will ever truly break from it.
Still, the danger was apparent and could not be ignored.
The last time that Alaric had taken Clara out in public, he had very nearly forgotten himself and the promises he had made.
Dammit, he had wanted to forget. It was just lucky that Clara had reminded him by mentioning his ex-wife, forcing him back into reality and giving him the excuse he needed to shut her out, as he had promised himself he would.
Should he take her out again, however, Alaric could not say what might happen. He knew what he needed to do. But was he strong enough? Could he continue to resist her? I suppose I am going to find out.
“Good,” Lord Wolfe said, sensing the fight leave Alaric. “This is the smart play, Alaric. The only play.”
“This is the last time,” Alaric said to him. “I will dance to your tune. I will perform as I need to. But after today, we are done. Do you understand me?”
“Alaric…” His uncle flashed him a victorious smile.
“If you play your part well enough, there will be no need after today. Remember that, let it guide you. But above all else…” He sat his large body up and looked firmly at Alaric in warning.
“Do not let it go to your head. It is a performance, not reality. Do not let your emotions get the better of you.”
“Emotions?” Alaric said bitterly. “Uncle, you and I both know they are long since dead.”