Past loves
The Duke of Jacaranda was reading his newspaper and had come across the article written about the Heywood wedding.
He had found the family welcoming and his daughter had warmed to the women. She had been very upset when she had learned the family was leaving London. She was more Italian in her mannerism than English and she had been quiet expressive in her unhappiness. She only spoke Italian and refused to leave their London home. He was starting to get worried about her and didn't know what to do.
He had gone to the White club and was intently reading the article when he was interrupted by a man called 'Mr Sidney Parker' who he had slightly meet at a ball. He looked up and nodded to allow the man to be seated with him.
"Mr Sidney Parker? I am correct?"
"Yes… I am a friend of the Earl of Babbington and the Viscount Crowe Easting" Sidney informing the Duke. Sidney himself had also come to the club for some rest from his own family problems.
"It seems your friends are away from London….attending a wedding in Willingdon" commented the Duke who passed the newspaper to Sidney. Sidney taking his time to read the article and tried to temper his emotions.
"The Viscountess of Crowe Eastings... she means something to you?" the Duke asked as he knew the look of a tortured man. It wasn't hard to see him intensely staring at Lady Charlotte Crowe Easting at the ball … in fact the Duke had been doing the same… but a different woman.
"I wanted to marry her but was required to marry someone for their money" He simply stated while clenching his jaw.
"How long ago was that?"
"Coming up to 3 years"
"Still counting… hmmm…" the Duke watched this man wrestle with his emotions.
"You have not been the first or last man to have married someone you didn't love… I wager most of the people sitting in the room". The Duke speaking honestly.
"Children" asked the Duke and he nodded when Sidney told him about his son 'William'.
"My daughter was the one thing that came as a blessing from my arranged marriage… I would suggest you focus on your son… he will need you… also make sure he will be able to marry for love" the Duke pleased when this man nodded in agreement.
Christina was the one person that motivated him to move forward. He loved her dearly and was determined she would marry for love. He didn't want her to live a life of regret. He was never destined to be the Duke and as the second son his father needed him to marry well to secure his future. He had no intention of marriage until the beautiful Susan flew into his life. He loved her and wanted to give her the world but fate intervened and he had to marry 'Cordelia Grange'.
He had seen her hurt as he withdrew his attentions and never forgot her look of distress when she discovered his engagement. Since that moment he spent his life reading about her rise in society and watch her from a distance. When he had seen her at the ball the previous week he had become breathless. Susan had remained timeless in her beauty and he had just aged.
He bid Mr Parker a good morning and headed home to check on the state of his daughter. He found she was up and was very buoyant… she was singing which was a sign she was feeling happy. He sighed and poured himself a drink and sank into a comfortable chair in the study. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply as he thought about the past.
He felt someone kiss his cheek and opened one eye… his daughter laughing at him as he always did that…
"Papa… I am so happy… I received a letter this morning!" her voice getting louder as she become excited
"Calm down, Child… what letter?"
"Victoria Heywood wrote to me inviting us to visit them in Willingdon… please papa can we go" Christina giving him her most adorable smile
"We don't really know them well enough to trespass on their time"
"Papa…. I am going and you can stay here by yourself…I have already written and informed them of our arrival". Christina folding her arms in front of her…he knew he had no hope of changing her mind.
"All right" and he was engulfed in her embrace and he laughed at her enthusiasm. He watched her rush out the room speaking Italian to her maid to begin packing.
As he sat finishing his drink he realised he was going to have to face his past and the woman he had badly hurt.
