1748, Selewynn Manor
“Mother did I not tell you? I said you would be pleasantly surprised.” Gleamed Florence as she was taking off her antique jewellery.
“No, I believe you said I would be surprised, nothing about it being pleasant.” Joked her mother.
“Sometimes I feel as if he is the one that would eventually save us from the debt father left us in.”
“My dear, you’ve only known him for little over a fortnight and already you see him that way?”
“What can I say? He makes a fast impression.”
“Don’t let the first impression of him guide your future opinions. Furthermore you must consider he is charming and clever with you to get your favor in order to ensure he is the one to buy the house? I’ve seen superior men do worse for far smaller prospects.”
Florence couldn’t help but entertain the idea this might be true. All she knew of him could’ve all this time been a character he played so that she and her family might like him enough to consider only him for the house. However she remebered something he mentioned to her in passing quickly enough to shut the idea down.
“I understand you would think that mother, as you don’t know him well enough to know his intentions if he should not be the choise for the house. He told me of his plans to build a house on his land. A man who so desparately wants to buy a house he uses charm to trick his way into getting it, would never admit there was no urgency or necessity to get the house by admiting he has plans if all else fails.”
“Oh, he said that? Well in that case I am surprised. I didn’t think he would be so charming, respectful and nice withouth being cunning. Thinking about it now, I suppose the story about him cheating his way into that money is far fetched, knowing he’s not that cunning.”
Florence could hear a heavy sigh from her mother before noticing her coming closer towards her in the reflection on the mirror. Her mother place a hand on her shoulder as Florence was sitting in front of the mirror, before kissing her forhead and saying “Oh dear. The way you speak of the man makes me believe I will be saying goodbye to you soon. It would also save us if you marry him, so for your sake I will try and make your father understand everything you get by marrying him. Are you quite determined, my dear?”
“Mother? Were my actions so transparent that you…” her mother stopped her with a nod indicating yes.
“I can tell your mind is quite made up, but your father and your adoring object neither know of it.”
Florence sighed with relief, and her mother left her to finish her nighttime routine alone.
Meanwhile, at Mr. Brantley’s lodgings
The elder Mr. Brantley was waiting patiently for his son to return from his dinner. He didn’t know if he should be anxious that something happened to him or if he should be happy he was in their company until so late in the night. The sudden commotion outside the doors awoke Mr. Brantley and he sprung to the door, opening them as Harold was abbout to knock.
“Father? You’re awake still?” Asked Harold.
“Naturally, how could I sleep when this evening means so much to your name?” This response made Harold smile as he entered the room.
“If you worry so much for me now, I cannot begin to imagine how you felt when I was away at war.”
“Harold, I will tell you honestly. If you ever put me in a state of such worry again, I’ll be too weak to bear it. Had you been at war for longer I’m not so sure I would’ve bore it. My disease didn’t fade when you got me the care, it faded when I stopped worrying for you.” Harold looked around not knowing what to say. “How do I tell you …” Harold sat down with a serious expression on his face, and with his hand he suggested his father would be better of sitting as well. With a sigh he continued talking. “I assume you realize that I’ve planned on going back to war.” His father’s face was a mix of conflicting emotions.
“But son … Why?” He asked with tears in his eyes “Do you perhpas enjoy it?”
“No father, I don’t enjoy it one bit … Father do you remember when I came to you, in person, before going to war, and gave you a few pounds just so you could have a little money to yourself if I end up losing it all?”
“How could I forget? All my life I’ve been working hard so that we could survive, and having barely nothing to keep at the end of the week, and then you came in and gave me several pounds, which is more than I could ever have saved working like I did. At that moment I was so proud of you.”
"Well father, about a month before I visited you I transfered the few pounds to you, but it never arrived. See, the bank I decided to transfer it by was owned by the friend of the man who lost to me in the gambling party. They made a deal they would take my money once I’ve placed it there for safekeeping, give it back to the man, and fabricate a story about a burglary when I come to find out my money is gone. His father gasped but soon composed himself.
“I wouldn’t put it past to rich people to be so cunning and evil.” He said. “I still don’t understand how this connects to you going back to war.” His father asked.
“When I first went to war, it was both to earn some money should it all be taken away by another plan as cruel as the previous one … and to get away from people trying to hunt me down. I’ve conducted a last will and testament and I’ve sorted everything before going of course. However, in war I discovered that I now have the opportunity and the money to work as a redcoat officer fulltime and it felt a simpler feat than hiding and playing mind games.”
The father sat unresponsive, with only teary eyes depicting his emotions.
“I soon came to realize that it would be less dangerous if I returned the money and continued as an officer cosindering the amount I would earn would still be considerably larger than I would’ve with manual labor, and It would still allow us … all of us to live comfortably.”
“Son, I would rather live the rest of my life the way I did than see you in such danger again.”
“It’s not dangerous, I’d say being in fear of mainipulation and everybody trying to get you would be more dangerous than being a redcoat officers during a period of no wars.”
“NONSENSE!” Shouted the voice from another room which neither were aware was there. Mary entered the room and said “My boy … You’ve never strayed far from danger. It was never a concern if something was dangerous or not becuase you always found a clever way to not get hurt no matter how dangerous something was. Not a month ago you were talking about those wars as if it was the most harrowing thing you’ve ever had to do. And now you want to go back to it? Puppycocks. My boy, I’ve always been aware that once you fear the dangers of something you fear it because it could happen to somebody you love.” His father realized what his mother said was true and he resulted to naming the only person he could think of that would fit the bill. “You know darling, you are right. it must be Miss. Cropper.”
“Yes of course, the young lady who invited you to meet her parents no less. I’d say that would be enough silly talk and get to wooing as soon as may be.”
“Mother, father, I cannot simply woo her like any other gentleman.”
“Why not? You are a gentlmen, at least in her eyes you are.” This proclamation by his father was followed by a few seconds long silence.
"Do you really think so? Harold asked with both hope and tears in his eyes.
“I’ve met her, and I could see it in the way she smiled when she was with you. Trust me, when one is in love it’s evident to everybody but the person they love. You are transparent that way too, my boy … to everybody but to her.” The room was silent again, which was a curtesy by Mr. and Mrs. Brantley in order for Harold to process what he’s just heard.
The silence was broken by his mother “Now, get to bed, both of you. It’s very late and I won’t be dealing with the two of you tired and angry in the morning.” After blowing our the few candles that were lit in the room except for one on the end table next to Harold, the parents left him in the dimly lit room to think as much as he needs to. The couch is where he chose to sleep after buring out the last candle, and although he was becoming weary his mind was still occupied with thoughts of Florence.
@Madilfill - mentioned the bank
