Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ian woke up suddenly, scrunching his eyes shut as the unwelcome morning light greeted him. He tried sitting up in bed, but his head felt extremely heavy. He was suffering from the repercussions of an excess of drink and felt ill.
“Walder!” Ian called out to his valet, still not willing to stand up.
He heard the door of his room open, and someone walked inside.
“Good day, My Lord,” Walder greeted him with a bow as Ian looked at him with one eye.
“What time is it?” Ian questioned lazily.
“The entire morning has gone by, My Lord, I tried waking you, but you were fast asleep and refused to even open your eyes. You must get dressed immediately, or you will be late for your picnic with Lady Esther.” Walder said, and Ian’s eyes widened.
How could he have forgotten about meeting Esther for their planned picnic?
He inwardly cursed himself before sprinting out of the covers and getting dressed quickly.
He felt as if a million tiny needles were pinching into his head at once.
He was regretting staying out late to drink, but there was no point. What was done was done.
Once he was dressed, he stepped out of his bed chamber, hastily heading towards the dining room for a quick and late breakfast. He was just about to enter when his mother stepped out of the room, intercepting him, and he had to balance himself or else the two would have crashed into her.
“Ian Gilbert, have you woken up just now?” Ian heard his mother ask and sighed dejectedly. He knew she would subject him to a good amount of scolding, and he mentally prepared himself for the attack.
“I slept late Mother, I apologize,” he answered honestly.
“You were out late drinking, weren’t you? You look half foxed Ian, it is evident that you are suffering from a hangover,” his mother exclaimed, sounding slightly disappointed.
“I was feeling a little low, so I went to White’s and met with a friend there. Things got a bit carried away, and I drank more than I intended,” Ian explained truthfully. His mother continued to look at him with a frown, and he knew she was not going to forgive him so easily.
“You are very fortunate that your father isn’t home right now.
He left for a meeting in town early this morning.
Do you have any idea how furious he would have been if he had seen you like this?
” His mother questioned and Ian knew she was right.
His father would have probably issued him another ultimatum.
“You are right, Mother, I am at fault. I promise this won’t happen again,” Ian replied, trying his best to rush things along. He was already late and did not wish to leave Esther waiting much longer.
“He is serious about his ultimatum Ian. He asked you to start behaving decently, and I thought you were actually doing it, but now I can see that it was all just a sham you put on, and now you are slowly drifting back into your former ways,” his mother scolded, clearly unimpressed.
Ian wished he could reason with his mother about the matter, but it felt pointless. She was set on staying angry with him.
“Mother, I have no idea why you think that, but I must tell you that the Earl of Hathershire has given me his blessing to formally court Lady Esther. I am serious about everything. Last night was just a small mistake because I got carried away after meeting an old friend, and I can assure you it won’t happen again.
I am trying my best to act responsibly and won’t disappoint you or Father,” Ian told her, sincerity evident in his tone.
A surprised expression registered on his mother’s face as she heard what Ian said. “Are you truly courting Esther for marriage, Ian? I had no idea you were actually taking your father’s ultimatum seriously,” she said, her tone amazed.
“Yes, Mother, I know that you and Father only want the best for me. Of course, I am taking it seriously,” Ian answered, trying his best to make his mother regain faith in him.
“I am glad about that, Ian. We truly love you and just want to see you happily settled. We couldn’t stay quiet as you walked on to the path of self-destruction,” His mother said, her eyes glossing over with unshed tears.
“I know that Mother, thank you for always being there for me,” Ian replied with a smile, touching his mother’s face lovingly. “Now I need to rush mother, I have a picnic planned with Lady Esther.”
“Wait, wait! You can’t go meet a young Lady looking like that. It is evident that you have spent the night drinking. What kind of impression would this give her?” His mother said, stopping him from leaving.
She took him by the hand and walked back inside the dining room before forcing him to sit on a chair.
“Please get me a concoction of raw egg and garlic,” Grace ordered a footman.
Ian made a face at his mother’s request knowing full well that she would force him to gulp down the entire thing.
She had done this countless times before, and Ian knew it was an excellent remedy for a hangover, albeit a nasty one.
“Is that really necessary, Mother?” Ian asked plaintively.
“Yes, absolutely! You are well aware that there is no better cure for treating a hangover than that,” his mother replied, and Ian knew she was right.
The footman brought the concoction in a glass and handed it to Grace, who mixed it perfectly before giving it to Ian.
“I know it tastes bad, but you have no other choice, son,” she said, and Ian gulped down the entire glass in one go. As the mixture went inside his body, he felt his mind grow clearer and the haziness fading.
His mother must have noticed because she suddenly asked, “Feeling better?”
Ian nodded, standing up and drinking a glass of water.
He walked towards the massive mirror placed over the sideboard and surveyed his reflection.
He straightened out his clothes and hair before turning around to leave.
He was starting to look and feel like his old self and was sure that his hangover would be much improved by the time he picked up Lady Esther.
“Wish me luck, Mother,” he said with a cheeky smile, and Grace laughed loudly.
“As if my son needs luck to woo a lady. I am sure she is already in love with you,” she replied and Ian paused. He did not wish for Esther to be in love with him, but the situation was beyond his control.
He bid his mother farewell and walked out of the dining room feeling much better than he had earlier. Now that he was formally courting Esther, their meetings would be more interesting and meaningful. He couldn’t wait to be in her company again.