One year ago
"Good Morning Mr Darling how are we this morning?" inquired a very small slightly plump man.
"Oh I'm very well this Morning Mr Smith and yourself?"answered Mr Darling as he took his spectacles off to clean them; the morning weather was indeed horrendous heavy rain and cold winter air.
"Oh I'm brilliant Mr Darling; Betty had the child last so I feel like new man"
Mr Smith and his wife Betty had been trying for a child for twelve years; so nine months ago when Betty said she was pregnant Mr Smith was jumping for joy. Mr Smith always seemed to amaze Mr Darling. Mr Smith even at times slightly reminded Mr Darling of himself. Mr Darling and Mr Smith had seemed to strick up a very good friendship; even though Mr Darling was nearing sixty now and Mr Smith was nearing his late forties. The man wasn't handsome he was a little tubby; had light green eyes and had a short blonde hair.
"Oh what brilliant news Eric what was it?" asked Mr Darling as he placed his glasses back on and then placed his coat down over his chair where his little oak stand was with all his paper work was. But before Mr Darling even had a chance to reply he was tapped on the shoulder and he turned around he was amazed to see the chief president of Chadwick Bank; Mr Edward Quillerqouch.
"Darling; can we talk?" asked Quillerqouch as he glanced at Mr Smith and nodded at him "Mr Smith"
Mr Darling turned around and glanced at Mr Smith "Shall we talk later at the pub?"
Mr Smith nodded his head and left to go to his clergy station.
"Darling I believe and correct me if I'm mistaken here but you have a daughter don't you?" asked Mr Quillerqouch as he placed his right arm over Mr Darling right shoulder as they walked and talked.
"Yeh...yeh...Yes sir. She is my eldest her name is Wendy"
"Yes that's right last time she was in the bank was when she was ten?"
"Eleven sir."
"So she is twenty one now?"
"Yes sir"
"Ah well you know Darling I've always admired how hard you work and how your a family man; especially since you took in those orphans and helped supply them a home"
"Yes sir"
"Well you know how I'm about to leave this bank as acting president?"
"I had heard the rumors sir but I thought nothing of it"
"Well anyway my son Charles will take over after I leave; but he will only take over my position if he marries. I mean you can't have a president who womanizes and doesn't have an heir to the great Quillerqouch fortune can you?"
"No sir" answered George and he pushed his glasses further up his nose.
Quillerqouch had walked George to his office and inside was a very smart looking man with short brown hair and green eyes.
"George this is my son Charles Quillerqouch; Charles this will be your father-in- law."
George was gobsmacked he was if anything looked shocked "Excuse me sir?"
"Oh father did you forget to ask? asked Charles as he poured a brandy for himself, his father and Mr Darling.
"Oh I'm sorry Darling. Would you mind if your daughter marries my son?" asked Quillerqouch
Mr Darling was dumbfounded he didn't know what to say. Charles passed over Mr Darling a glass of brandy.
"Why?" was all George could say.
"Well Mr Darling"began Charles as he leaned at the fireplace and took a sip off his brandy "Well your daughter Mr Darling; Miss Wendy is beautiful I've seen her outside the bank waiting to walk back home with you or sometimes in the library. We have spoke on various occasions about various topics I must say she is most interesting. Plus if she marries me you know she will and also so shall the rest of your family be financial stable"
"The other thing is Darling she will be a well known woman; society will idolize her. She will be Mrs Wendy Quillerqouch."
George Darling placed down his brandy he felt if he didn't he might drop the glass from the amount he was perspiring.
"May I think about it sir?
"Of course now why don't you go home and tell your pretty little daughter she has a marriage proposal"
With this Mr Darling left the office to go to his station; contemplating on what Quillerqouch and his son had proposed.
"Do you think the blithering idiot will twig on?" asked Charles as he reached into his coat pocket for his cigars.
"I'd imagine not; he doesn't even realise I've been taking bits of money out of his account into yours." answered Quillerqouch.
"How did the old fool even get that amount of money anyway?"asked Charles as he sparked up his cigar.
"It has something to do with his daughter. Anyway this time once your married don't go gambling it like last time! This will be the last time I help you. Remember Charles you need to woo the little bookworm so you have all access to her money."
"And after that?" after he inhaled his cigar
"Keep her or divorce her. All we need is her fortune. The Darlings are middle class and we are upper class we cannot afford to lose our status. Get it! "