Page 6 of A Lady's Beloved Novelist
“I think it is just going to take some time,” he said, shrugging.
“You have lived at the estate for a few years now, James,” his mother reminded him.
“Yes, but I did not move there with the intention of courting my landlord’s daughter. I moved to have my own space and prepare myself for life to come.”
“So that you could write in peace,” his mother corrected, but James was quick to brush her off.
“I think you are being too rash to assume the girl wants to jump straight into marriage.”
His mother was the only one who knew his secret, aside from the man who published his novels. His pen name was Dean Morris, and the nature of his books followed many of his adventures from his time in the military and the travelling he got to do afterward. Moving to the baron’s estate had made writing a lot easier because he did not have to hide it from anyone.
As far as the other tenants were concerned, he simply spent his days writing in his journal and writing letters home or to his‘lovers’, as one tenant referred to them. James was content with the concealment of his writing identity, and he really did enjoy putting his experiences into the stories that so many people seemed to enjoy.
“There is nothing rash in that,” his mother said, narrowing her eyes.“It is the girl’s duty, and I am sure her mother and father will be telling her the same thing.”
“There have been other suitors to the main castle…though nobody looks to have made a success of speaking with her.”
“Are you sure that she is pleasant? How can one woman possibly turn down every man who comes to her door with the intention of marrying her?”
“She is very strong-willed,” James said, though he was not sure why he sought to defend her.
“You hold her in too high regard,” his mother responded quickly.“It is not I that you will have to convince, I think you should know that by now. As long as this all ends in a marriage, I am happy to entertain it. But you know your father is worried about you taking over the duchy with no woman at your side.”
“How many times do I need to explain to you that I will not let it get to that point?” James asked, his voice rising slightly.
In the years that he had lived on the estate of Baron Rivers, Andrea’s father, James had felt his affection for Andrea grow and bloom into feelings that he just could not ignore.
He would have been lying if he said that it did not hurt him every time he saw another suitor at her door. But it was always quickly combated by the relief he would feel when they were inevitably seen leaving the castle embarrassingly early. Andrea was working up quite a reputation for herself, but it only made him want her more.
She had a wild soul, and he would often see her moving about the grounds whilst trying not to soil her skirts. James was determined to find whatever key would fit and unlock her heart because he felt as though he could be the one to make her fully happy.
“Your father thinks she is playing with your feelings,” his mother continued.“I am hoping that is not the case, but I must admit that even I am not too sure what to make of her games at this point.”
“I do not believe them to be games, but she does not know what she wants.”
“Is that something that attracts you?” his mother asked, quirking up a thin eyebrow.“Because you know your father will not stand for you making a fool of yourself, not if it will impact the family name.”
“You sound like Father now,” James said whilst shaking his head and shifting in his seat. The pressure they were putting onto him was rather unfair.
“You have been in this world for thirty-one years, my son,” his mother began whilst holding up a hand to silence his protests. She often made her sentences sound as dramatic as the current one had started, and James just did not want to hear it anymore.“It is time for you to find a wife.”
“I thought you wanted me to move to this estate to find peace and happiness. That is exactly what I have right now,” James countered.
“I am only relaying the message from your father: you need to find a wife, or he will stop paying the rent for your space on the baron’s estate.”
James had never felt threatened by his parents’ pressure before, but his mother’s words caused him to gulp from the realisation that they were no longer taking a relaxed approach.
“All right, fine,” James said finally after a heavy silence.“I will talk to her, and I will be much more plain with my feelings.”
“Good, that is what your father will want to hear.” His mother nodded slowly.
James could only agree with his mother. Knowing that it was not worth the conflict with his parents, it was much better to just tell them what they wanted to hear. He was, however, slightly worried about the conversation he was going to have with Andrea.
He had become fond of her, and his affections only seemed to grow every time they interacted. The thought of losing all of that because of the pressure his parents were placing him under was not one that he wanted to entertain just yet.
Chapter 4
Walking with Lily was perhaps one of the only forms of escape outside of having her nose in the pages of a book that Andrea looked forward to. It was a chance for the two of them to speak freely in the open air whilst enjoying the breeze as it teased through their curls. Spring was beginning to show the first signs that it was bleeding into summer.
