AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes.” Kenver started to go, but something made him hesitate. “Do you remember how we used to ride out together when I was young?”
“Of course.”
“You showed me the old oak tree.”
His father smiled and nodded. “I haven’t been down there in years.”
“It is still standing, though more gnarled and shaggier than ever,” said Kenver.
“I found a Roman coin in the floor there once.”
Kenver moved closer to the bed. “Really?”
“When I was eight or so. I wasn’t certain what it was, though I recognized the Latin. I showed it to my tutor, and he said it came from the reign of Emperor Diocletian.”
“That’s amazing.” Kenver sat down in the chair Sarah always used.
“He took it away from me,” his father added.
“What? No!”
“He said I would be careless and lose it.” Papa shrugged. “I think he just wanted it for himself. I was quite cast down.”
“That’s outrageous. You should have protested.”
“Well, yes, I suppose. I’ve never cared much for brangling, you know.”
“Nor do I.” But somehow, this time, Kenver couldn’t leave it at that. “You brangled rather well over my marriage.”
His father looked guilty. “Your mother was so insistent.”
“And you go along with her wishes.”
There was a short, heavy silence. And then Papa surprised him by saying, “They chose her for me, you know.”
“They?”
“Myparents. They thought I didn’t realize, but I overheard them talking after the engagement. Up in London, it was. They thought I was a bit dim, and Alice would set me to rights.” He frowned. “Perhaps I was. I wondered if I might have just been young though. I don’t know. At any rate, Alice was their answer.”
“And you gave her the reins.”
“Oh well, they did that really. They had the estate agent—old Yates, that was—train her up.”
“They cut you out?” Kenver was appalled.
“I was there as well,” his father assured him. “Heard all the same lessons. I remember them too.”
“But you went along with it.”
“I always have. Before.”
They looked at each other. Kenver thought that a lot of history passed silently between them. “Here’s the thing,” he said. “I won’t have Sarah bullied. Anymore.”
His father nodded. “She’s a taking little thing. She’d been very kind to me. I was surprised.”
“She is kind to everyone, if she is allowed to be. And Iwillsee that she is treated properly.”
“It’s different when it’s someone else,” Papa answered.
