Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ian walked in the dining room at Gilendale Manor and found his parents were already seated. Breakfast was spread out on the sideboard, and Ian greeted the two of them enthusiastically.
“Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother. I hope you two are well this morning?” Ian questioned before sitting down beside his mother.
“We are well son, how are you?” His mother asked, pouring tea into Ian’s cup.
“Must you even ask Grace? Look at him; he looks exceptionally bright this morning,” his father joked, and Ian smiled as he took the tea from his mother.
“I look bright every morning, Father, I’ll have you know,” Ian replied, sounding amused.
“Well, I must congratulate you on your courtship with Lady Esther. You have chosen yourself an excellent young lady,” his father bellowed, clearly ecstatic about the match.
Ian knew it was probably because his father and Wilson Chapple were old friends and business acquaintances.
The families knew each other quite well, and this match between him and Esther would only solidify their existing bond.
“Thank you, Father, though I do not remember announcing my courtship. May I ask how you discovered the information?” Ian asked, knowing it was a pointless question.
His mother must have gushed on and on about Ian taking Esther on a picnic yesterday.
He turned to look at his mother with an accusing stare. She laughed.
“I know that you think I told him but, I did not. He read it himself in the gossip column.” Grace informed, and Ian raised an eyebrow disbelievingly.
“I had no idea you read the gossip columns, Father,” Ian said, dumbfounded.
He had no idea what to be more worried about, his father knowing about his courtship or the entire ton talking about it.
Ian knew that it was exactly what he had wanted.
A public courtship that would end up in marriage as soon as possible to save his allowance from being cut off.
Though now that it was actually happening, his emotions were running rampant.
“Yes, you and Lady Esther are mentioned in great detail in today’s column,” his mother said before picking up the paper from the table and handing it to Ian. Ian read the piece with a hilarious expression before putting it back down.
His parents looked extremely happy about this match, and Ian was glad that he had given them some peace of mind.
They had been worried about him, and he had only made things worse for them in the last three years by his unnecessarily bold and indecent actions.
He knew he was only doing this to fulfill his father’s ultimatum but he was glad that he could give his parents some semblance of happiness.
Esther was an angel, and his parents would like her immediately.
“I am just glad that you picked a sensible young girl who comes from such an excellent family,” the duke chimed in, and Ian nodded, already aware of this.
“I wanted to talk to you about something Ian,” Grace said, and Ian sensed a hesitation in her tone that had been absent earlier. He looked at her with a questioning expression and nodded, indicating for her to continue.
“I am hosting a soirée in five days’ time, and I have already invited the Hathershires,” his mother said and Ian visibly relaxed.
He had expected to hear something unbecoming, but this was actually an excellent idea.
A soiree would allow their families to interact and give Esther and Ian more time with one another.
“That is wonderful, Mother. I am sure it will be a great success,” Ian told her with a smile, actually looking forward to attending it.
“Ian, I have invited your brother and both Adam and Lisa have agreed to come. I ask that you put aside your differences and attend the event. I know that you haven’t met them for the last three years, but they are family, Ian.
You can’t avoid them forever. I’m sure it will be easier to face them with Lady Esther by your side” Grace went on, trying her best to explain the situation to him.
Ian felt a ringing in his ears, and his blood began to boil at the mention of their names.
He knew that his mother was right, and there was no way that he could ignore them forever, but that did not mean he would meet them willingly.
He had been so hurt and angry at them that he hadn’t even attended their wedding.
He had refused to put himself through the misery.
“I understand, Mother. I will think about it,” Ian said shortly.
“Promise me you will Ian? It would be the talk of the town if you are absent from your own family event,” his mother pleaded, and Ian once again knew she was right.
He couldn’t possibly skip an event hosted by his own mother, especially when he was in town.
He couldn’t find an excuse to leave town in the middle of a courtship with Esther either.
His parents had trapped him, and he knew there was no escape.
“I promise, Mother. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to,” Ian stood up, with no clue about where to go to or what to do.
The only thing he knew was that he had to leave the house.
He made his way back upstairs and headed straight to his room, where Walder was straightening his belongings.
His blood was boiling at the prospect of being in the same room with Adam after all that time. The fact that Lisa would be there too was making him even angrier. The two people who had singlehandedly ruined his life were walking back into it once again.
Ian knew that he had to calm down or else he would end up doing something stupid. This wasn’t the time to let his heart and emotions rule his decision. He had to think rationally.
“My Lord, is something the wrong?” Walder asked, correctly judging Ian’s thunderous expression.
“Prepare my riding breeches,” Ian ordered and Walder hurried away. Ian couldn’t stop thinking about his brother and Lisa. Ian knew his mother was right, he couldn’t possibly stay away forever. So he decided that he had to focus on Esther now.
Walder walked back inside the bed chamber with Ian’s clothes, and he quickly changed.
“Where are you headed off to, My Lord?” Walder asked, concern in his voice. Ian tried to calm down a little, not wanting to worry the man.
“Everything is fine Walder, I am calmer now. I will be fine,” Ian confirmed before heading out of his room and Gilendale Manor.
He walked towards the stables, not knowing where to go.
The only person that came into his mind was Esther.
Whenever he was in Esther’s presence, he felt considerably at peace.
She made him feel like a different person altogether. A better, more sane version of himself.
Ian had never felt that way before. He had always been restless. In her presence, all his worries would subside, he would lose himself in her soft voice and forget about the world around them.
Ian determined to go see her. He knew that he had told her he would call on her the next day, but he was sure that it would be a happy surprise for her. Just the thought of visiting her turned his sour mood considerably better.
Esther was seated comfortably on a high stool with a canvas placed in front of her.
She was facing the window, trying to soak in as much sunlight as she possibly could.
The canvas displayed an array of colors, and Esther was pleased.
She was painting the scenery from her picnic in the park yesterday.
“My Lady, that is beautiful,” Ruth exclaimed as she walked inside, and her gaze fell on the painting placed before Esther.
“Really, Ruth? I feel like something is missing...” Esther sighed, trying her best to give it the final touches that would improve it.
“I am sure you will only make it more lovely,” Ruth confirmed before walking to the couch and sitting down there with a book in her hand.
Esther looked down at herself and noticed that her yellow dress was spotted in paint here and there.
She had forgotten to wear the apron, and now her dress was soiled.
Her hands were covered in paint too, and she was certain that even her face was a mess.
The neat chignon Ruth had tied her hair in had come apart and now hung loosely at the nape of her neck.
She didn’t mind. Painting required a little sacrifice, and Esther enjoyed it immensely.
“My Lady, you have a caller,” the butler announced.
Who could be calling in on me at this hour?
She knew that Ian was supposed to call on her tomorrow, and she had interacted with no other gentlemen.
“Who is it?” Ruth asked, from her position on the couch.
“Lord Gilbert,” the butler announced, and Esther looked at him with widened eyes. She couldn’t possibly see Ian in this state. She looked horrible, and Ian would probably think she had no manners.
“Ruth, what do we do? We can’t turn him away, and I can’t see him looking like this!” Esther exclaimed.
“My Lady, we can’t keep him waiting, and trust me, you look perfectly fine. I am sure Lord Gilbert will like this surprise.” Ruth consoled, and Esther hoped she was right. She had no other choice after all.
“All right, send him in,” Esther ordered with a sigh.
She quickly stood up and put aside the brushes and palette.
She tried miserably to straighten out her appearance as much as she possibly could but knew it was of no use.
Before she could do anything more, loud footsteps reached the drawing room and soon enough Ian entered.
Esther looked up and was met with an amused smile dancing on Ian’s lips, and she no longer cared for how she looked.
Ian’s presence was the only thing that mattered.