Page 76 of Lady of Charade
“She is a friend of my mother's family,” Sarah explained. “She was kind enough to act as my chaperone throughout the previous two Seasons.”
That seemed to appease David’s mother for now, though David hoped that with the Earl’s acceptance of his daughter, acceptance of Sarah amongst the rest of theton— including his parents — would soon follow.
“David, would you come speak with me and Franklin in the study for a few moments before dinner?” his father asked, to which David hesitated. He had no desire to leave Sarah to his mother just yet, although Andrea, at least, was here…
“Go ahead,” Sarah assured him softly, and he reached out to squeeze her hand before he followed his father, sitting in front of the mahogany desk next to Franklin with some trepidation.
“When I had determined you would marry Lady Georgina,” his father began, “I had also begun to make other plans for you.”
David’s spine stiffened. His father had more than enough plans for him lately, and none were to his liking.
“As you know, we have a few different estates around England. One of such estates is Gracebourne near Cambridge.”
David nodded. He knew it well. It was one of the smaller of his father's estates, but he had always enjoyed it. The nearby village of Hauxton was warm and welcoming, while the estate itself was just large enough.
“It’s yours,” his father said, and David stared at him in shock.
“Pardon me?" he asked, before looking over at Franklin, who grinned at him.
“It’s yours,” his father repeated. “I had always planned to give it to you once you settled down some, proved you were keen on taking responsibility. It was why we were trying to push you to marry Lady Georgina. She seemed a respectable sort of girl, pretty enough, and we were hoping you would be taken with her.”
“I realize that you must be quite disappointed in my rejection of her—” David began, but his father stopped him holding up a hand.
“When I first heard the news, yes, I was,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he fixed his stare on David. “However, I was actually also proud of you.”
David furrowed his brow as he stared at him. “Proud of me?”
“Yes,” his father said with a nod. “You did the right thing by going there to tell them the truth. Instead of shirking away from the responsibility, allowing the family to believe that you were going to go through with the marriage. You looked them in the eyes and told them the truth.”
“Which I wouldn’t have had to do if you had listened when I told you that I was not interested. I was also not pleased to hear you felt you had to pay someone to wed me.”
His father shrugged, unperturbed. “Perhaps. I thought, however, you were denying her because you were resisting our efforts, not because you had your own plan in mind. As for the payment, what does money matter when it comes to your children’s happiness?”
David sat in silence for a moment, processing all that his father had just shared with him. Franklin leaned over to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“All will be well, brother,” he said. “Forgive Mother and Father their machinations.”
“Did you know?” David asked him, and Franklin looked slightly chagrined.
“Part of it,” he responded. “But I had faith all would work out.”
“I know you likely aren’t pleased with the thought of living outside of London,” their father said now, and David shook his head in response before he could continue the thought.
“Actually, Father, it’s perfect,” he said. “Sarah has never lived in a city before she came to London, and she is not keen on remaining here, a place where she has never felt comfortable. I had promised her we would live somewhere in the country, I just wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I had yet to come up with a profession I was suited for. I had actually thought perhaps I could become a barrister, but that would require an education, which I could never afford on my own. I think, however, I should like looking after my own estate.”
“You would?” Franklin asked, surprised, looking over at his brother. “That was the one aspect of Father’s plan I was unsure of — you, living in the country looking after an estate. It seemed to be the last thing you would enjoy.”
“Sometimes, things change,” David said simply.
“I think I like this Sarah of yours,” Lord Brentford said as he stroked the gray beard that covered his face. “She has brought out a side of you I haven’t seen in many years.”
David cleared his throat and looked down at his hands for a moment before meeting his father’s eye.
“I realize that I have not been the son you have likely wished for. I must admit I had my own frustrations with you and Mother, but I do understand your lack of faith in me.”
“We only wanted you to find happiness and stability in your life, which you certainly weren’t finding at The Red Lion,” his father said, and David slightly cringed. He hadn’t been aware that his father knew exactly where he had been spending much of his time.
“I do not believe I will be frequenting The Red Lion much more anytime soon,” David said, and his father laughed.
