Here begins the second volume of Vindicating a Man of Consequence. The first volume is complete and you will be lost if you try to pick up the story without having read that first. This prologue is just a little taste of where this tale is heading. I have some other works in progress that I need to finish up so I do not plan on posting more on this for a while. Please follow or favorite to keep track of it when I begin posting revised chapters in earnest. As always, I welcome feedback and your reviews matter. If you are logged in, I will do my best to respond. Thank you again for all of your kind support.
Prologue: The Earl of – : A Most Alarming Report
When my middle son Edwin returned from Kent earlier than anticipated, I let his mother fuss over him and let none of my annoyance leak through. I prefer to save unpleasant conversations for when I am alone with my son. A wife should not be privy to such things.
I knew from Edwin's earlier letters that my nephew Darcy was being far less biddable than he should have been. Before Edwin returned, I thought it was still possible that he might be making progress, but his early return home was clear evidence that he had failed me.
I cannot abide failure because failure can only occur when there is a lack of strength and resolve. To think, that a child of my loins could not overcome the will of that defective and arrange things for the good of our family is insupportable. Edwin is weak, weak like my father. His weakness sets me on edge, like a cat whose fur is rubbed the wrong way. His failure was not to be borne and I was determined to see things set right even if I had to do it myself.
Later, after dinner, I spoke to Edwin about why he had left Rosings before Easter. He told me, his manner reminding me of a cowering dog wagging his tail even as he hesitates to approach his master for fear the master will kick him, "I have done my best to match Darcy with Anne." While Edwin's voice was strong, his shoulders were hunched in and his head bent down a bit.
I said nothing and waited. I knew he would attempt to explain, to justify his failure and I was more than willing to let him play the fool. Edwin swallowed, a gulp that made no sense in someone who is not drinking anything, and avoided my eyes as he said, "but Darcy is decidedly against such a match."
Then Edwin met my eyes as if to convince me of his sincerity; I knew it was a tactic and nothing more. He looked down again as he recounted, "I did all I could to make him see reason, but he was determined, and I believe him when he says he shall never wed her."
"Your belief is unimportant Edwin. When I give an order, I expect to be obeyed, for you to obtain results." I let my disgust show as I explained, "I do not understand how my son, a cavalry Colonel, can be so feeble in his efforts, so ineffective. If your general told you to take a hill, would you scurry back and report, 'I believe it can't be done, so I returned to camp'?"
I purposely spoke in an effeminate tone when mimicking his words. Although this was not the first occasion in which I had spoken in such a voice to shame him, a light blush dusted Edwin's face before he hung his head.
Edwin knew better than to challenge me, more is the pity, so I continued. "But I forget myself, you only reached that exalted position because I paid for it. Still from all reports you were courageous enough in the saddle, perhaps the fear of getting lashed for disobedience made you at least feign bravery."
Edwin looked up then and I saw a hint of anger in his eyes, but he said nothing in his own defense. Then the anger vanished before he could put it to good use and show me the fire that would prove he was my true son. Instead, he ignored my taunting, made not even the barest effort to defend himself.
"What you might not anticipate . . ." Edwin paused, twisted his lips and I was uncertain as to whether he was amending his thoughts, editing out something he did not want me to know, or if just being in my presence when I was angry left him flummoxed. "Darcy continues to improve. When I saw them together, the mismatch between them was most evident. I understand why Darcy does not wish to marry Anne; she may have the body of a woman, but she is very child-like. I cannot imagine many who would take joy in sharing relations with her."
"Did I ask what you thought?" I yelled. "That was the point entirely. Surely you spoke to him about ending the contamination in his line, striking out the flaw by not having children. The noble thing would be to marry her and do nothing that would cause stress to her weak heart."
Edwin nodded, "I did. I spoke of both things. He was unmoved."
"Oh, I see," I responded and see I did. But I kept the knowledge to myself and did not share my suspicion that Darcy must have someone else in mind as his bride.
Edwin pulled back further and said nothing. He was protecting Darcy; I was almost certain of it. I felt the smallest bit of grudging respect for him that he would assert himself enough to not tell me. This led to a momentary stab of remorse in seeing how my son feared me, but still I pushed, hoping that someday I would make a man of him.
I spoke very quietly but intensely. "Edwin, I am disappointed in you. When Darcy returns to town, I expect you to bring him around to our way of thinking. I would rather have him convinced that marrying Anne and having no heirs is simply the right thing to do, rather than to have to force his hand.
"Listen to me and listen to me well. We will not lose Rosings and Pemberley; they belong to the Fitzwilliams. Although Darcy cannot be declared incompetent, his father and his uncle the judge saw to that, if he will not marry Anne, he will not marry at all!"
Edwin said nothing. I longed to hear him talk back, to hear him truly challenge me, to prove that he has cods and is a stallion and not a gelding.
Finally, when I was certain he planned to remain silent, I told him, "Son, if you cannot get the job done, I shall simply have to handle things myself." I left unsaid the fact that there would be consequences for his failure. While Edwin had no aptitude for school, he is intelligent enough to not need everything spelled out for him.
I let him think about how I might handle it before I commented, "Georgiana nearly old enough to wed, is she not?"
Edwin blanched. He really is a ninny. He told me, "She is only sixteen and not yet out."
"Yes, I know." I told him. I said nothing further; there was no need. Perhaps I had found the leverage I required to adequately motivate my son.
As for me, I was in no hurry to make decisions. I had no wish to decide what would be best to do without having all the needed information. There would be time for me to find out more, to make plans, after Darcy returned to London.
