Page 4 of The Earl's Error
“He is a Duke after all,” Theodore murmured, though this was not what his mother wanted to hear, given the way her face grew all the redder. “I apologize for my lack of understanding.” He put out one hand to her. “Please, what is it that troubles you?”
“I have nothing!” Lady Albury exclaimed, her eyes wide now as she attempted to make him understand. “I have left most of my fine jewels at the estate and you will not permit me to have the heirlooms, even though, by rights, they belong to me.”
This made Theodore frown heavily. “That is entirely untrue, though you are well aware of that, are you not?”
His mother looked away.
“When I took on the title, the heirlooms became mine,” he continued, gravely. “They are priceless, as well you know.”
“But I have worn them on many an occasion and you must know that I should take great care of them.”
“It is not about that,” Theodore answered. “Mother, you have many fine jewels and you are able to show off your wealth and standing just as any other can do.”
Lady Albury sighed and shook her head, her lips flattening. “I knew that you would not understand.”
Theodore lips pinched. It was not as though he did not have any understanding in this, for he truly did. His mother wassomeone who delighted in being admired – she always had been – and yet, if someone came to threaten that security, she had to push herself higher than ever before. Now, feeling herself standing below these other two ladies, she was demanding the heirlooms that did not belong to her, simply so that she might show herself to be just as great as they, if not higher in her standing.
And I do not want to do such a thing.
Theodore sighed as his mother put one hand to her forehead, now looking sidelong at him as if she were trying to work out how best to coerce him into doing as she wished.
“The heirlooms are, as you said yourself, at the estate.” Theodore shook his head. “I cannot return for them.”
“Why not?”
“Because it is a three day journey!” Theodore exclaimed, frustrated that his mother would be willing to send him away for the best part of a sennight to fetch the confounded things. “And I would be going there for very little reason.”
“Your mother’s contentment is a good reason, is it not?”
The manipulation hit Theodore hard and he looked away, his jaw tightening as his hands clasped together in his lap. It was not the first time his mother had behaved in such a way, not the first time that she had done whatever she could force his will. There were times that Theodore had been able to withstand her, had been able to put up enough of a defense to prevent her from forcing his hand but those times had been swiftly followed with more than a few difficulties, though his father had been alive at that time and had been able to assist him with it all. Now, however, it was only his will who stood against hers.
And I am wearied enough by it all already. Is this something that I truly wish to put up with at this present moment, especially when I am here in London for the first time since my mourning for my father came to an end?
No, he considered, that was not something he desired to endure now. After all, he was here for the London Season, wanting to enjoy himself in fine company and, mayhap, considering which of the young ladies of London he might be willing to consider,ifhe was to do so, but to have his mother frustrating him at every turn, whining and crying and demanding meant that every day, near enough everymomentwould be spoiled.
Inwardly, he groaned.
“I cannot go back to the estate for the heirlooms.” Again, he tried to speak firmly but his mother’s chin wobbled and a single tear fell to her cheek, making him wince. “Mother, what you ask is too much.”
“I do not think that any good son would find himself in a quandary over his mother’s happiness,” Lady Albury sniffed, looking away from him now, her eyes watery. “Do you want me to be shamed in front of my friends? Do you truly desire for me to lose my standing in society?”
“I hardly think that you will do so simply because you do not have the emeralds,” Theodore answered, though there was less strength in his voice now, his mother’s wheedling wearing him down as guilt ripped through him – guilt that he knew he did not deserve but felt nonetheless. “As I have said, I know that you haveplentifuljewels and do not need to have the emeralds.”
“Are you sure you cannot send someone for them?” His mother came closer to him now, her hand going to his arm though her eyes were still filled with tears. “I should not have asked you to go yourself, that was selfish of me, I know.”
Yet more manipulation from her lips,Theodore thought, his jaw tightening.She means none of those things.
“It is only that I am so sorrowful over the mockery that is sure to come upon me when I cannot display the same wealth and standing as my companions,” she sighed, lifting her handfrom his arm. “I am sure that there is a man you trust who would go to the estate and fetch the jewels for you? What about Whitaker?”
Theodore grimaced. “Whitaker is my man of business, not someone that I send on a fool’s errand.” The moment the words came out of his mouth, he knew that he ought not to have said such a thing. His mother let out a cry of seeming sorrow and turned away from him sharply, walking directly across the floor towards the door and flinging it open in a most dramatic fashion. Her wails did not stop, the echoes of them running through the hallway and up towards him, making Theodore wince with every one.
Sighing, he pushed himself to his feet and walked to pour himself a brandy. It was a little too early, mayhap, but his thoughts were now in disarray and he found himself in need of some restoration.
“Is it quite all right to step in?”
Theodore turned, glass in hand. “Castleton! Goodness, I did not expect to see you here!” Setting the empty glass down, he strode across the room and shook his friend’s hand, slapping him on the shoulder with the other. “When did you come back to London?”
“Only yesterday.” Lord Castleton winced. “It took me a fortnight to travel here and truth be told, I regretted my journey once I was halfway here! Much to my wife’s dismay, of course.”
