Page 18 of A Father's Insistence

Chapter Nine

Theodore

The day has been amazing and beyond my wildest dreams. The people I’ve met on my father’s advice have been more than willing to join my campaign against the Cavendish brothers. I feel hopeful we can avenge what they put Joanna through and destroy their stranglehold on the Oakfield Society. As the car pulls up to my home, all I want to do is jump out and run and tell Joanna. She was so quiet after meeting Nicholas yesterday, and I worry intensely it has stirred up all the memories she’s tried to bury deep within her. On arriving back home, I allow the driver to open the car door for me, and as I climb out, I see my butler waiting at the front door, holding what looks like Joanna’s camera.

“Is something wrong?” I take the steps leading up to the house two at a time, my pulse quickening with worry.

“I don’t know, sir. The Duchess of Oakfield visited earlier. Lady Joanna left her camera in the garden when she returned inside shortly after.”

I take the camera from him and notice the lens is smashed. In another few quick strides, I’ve left my butler standing in the hallway, and I’m upstairs and outside Joanna’s room.

I knock lightly, three times, before trying the handle. It’s locked. Putting my ear to the door, I can hear Joanna crying. Without hesitating I dash quickly into my room and through the interconnecting door into hers. She’s lying on the bed curled up into a ball. When she looks up at me, I can see red rims of tiredness and sorrow around her eyes.

“What happened?” I ask as I place the camera on the sideboard and springing onto the bed, I bring her into my arms. She’s cold to the touch, so I pull the sheets up to cover her body. “Joanna, talk to me, please.”

“Nothing.”

“I know Victoria was here. Is she ok? Has something happened?”

“I can’t...” she whimpers and then goes quiet.

I pull her farther up the bed, so she has to look directly at me.

“You need to talk to me. I can’t help unless you tell me what happened.”

She tries to stifle a sob, but it comes out as an exaggerated breath instead.

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you were born into a different world, place, or time?”

“Sometimes, but I don’t regret the life I live. I know it’s honest, and I try to do the best for those around me.”

“But what if it’s not possible. Because of fear, you’re too scared to even think about what the truth is and what lies are anymore. Knowing if you find out what you think is true isn’t, then you could be killed for it or worse.” I’m deliberately cryptic when talking not wanting to give too much away to Theo. If he discovers the truth of his father’s actions, there is a chance he could be killed. I certainly will be murdered for driving a wedge between father and son.

“Joanna, what did Victoria say to you?”

I gently hold her chin with my hand and turn her head from side to side. I’m checking for…I don’t really know what I’m checking for, but I have to know she’s not injured in any way.

“I want something different,” she replies and lifts her head up, so she’s looking directly into my eyes.

“What?”

“For tonight. I want to be normal. No hatred, hurt, lies, revenge. None of that. I just want to be husband and wife. We barely know each other. I’ve told you a handful of things about me. My love for photography and graphics but nothing else. I know so little about you other than you seem to have a passion for philanthropic work.”

“But Victoria being here? It upset you.”

She shakes her head.

“No. Not tonight. What is your favorite food?”

She shifts on the bed, so she’s sitting on top of the sheets. The color returns to her cheeks, giving them a rosy tint. Her eyes are expectant with excitement, and gone is the sorrow and fear that was evident in them before. She has shut away what upset her, and I know I’ll never get anything out of her, tonight. In this moment, though, I don’t care because I want more than anything to please her and make her happy.

“Filet Mignon.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Typical male answer.”

I bash my fists against my chest like a caveman.

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