Pride and Prejudice FF

Unbreakable Bonds

Previously:

Richard felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to dismiss what the gentleman had said, deny any possibility that Patricia had any hint of what was going on, but even he had to admit his old place of business had been doing extremely well until he had remarried.

Rhys' Discussion

Ch. 22

Richard had been standing motionless upon a vibrant Persian rug, yet the stillness soon became intolerable, compelling him to stride back and forth across the drawing room. The ticking of his father's age-old clock appeared to accentuate his troubled thoughts. His wife, positioned on the sofa, radiated tension, her rigid posture signaling anticipation of an unavoidable confrontation, the specifics of which eluded her conscious understanding. Eventually, Richard broke the quietude.

"Mrs. Rhy," he began, his voice stripped of any semblance of warmth, "my enterprise in York was prospering prior to our union. Subsequent to our marriage, with the introduction of your former classmates into our circle, I have faced nothing but tribulations. I chalked it up to a bad streak and changed locations. Presently, precious items from my establishment in Bath have been exchanged with forgeries—events that coincidentally align with your absences."

Patricia's eyes widened in sheer astonishment, her hands clasping firmly in her lap. "Richard, I was completely unaware," she whispered, her shock was genuine.

Mr. Rhy, fortified by the solace of his home, continued, "My inclination is to place my trust in you, Mrs. Rhy, yet the evidence before me is formidable. It is not merely the thefts that concern me; it is the reputation of your companions. The standing of your friends is, at best, questionable."

She sought to offer an explanation, but her husband's resolve remained firm. "You are faced with a choice. Either you sever ties with these individuals you call friends, or you must relocate to the dower house immediately. You will not occupy my bed this night, nor any night henceforth, unless they are completely extricated from our lives. If necessary, I am willing to pursue a divorce."

The initial shock that had seized Patricia gave way to a stark realization just how serious her husband was. Yes, she had plenty of places to go to. Yes, her siblings would take her in. A couple of them had never really liked Richard in the first place. However, Mrs. Rhy honestly cared for, and adored, her husband and, therefore, she continued to listen to him.

Richard's gaze remained unflinching as he presented his ultimatum. "The integrity of our family's name must not be compromised. You must decide at this moment."

The room was once more enveloped in silence, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock, which now seemed to echo the pulsation of their hearts. Patricia understood that her imminent response would determine their fate, and the decision she was about to make would change the course of their lives irrevocably. "I…" She exhaled, acknowledging an inner truth that resounded within her. "I am willing to sever ties with Mr. Tyler and all those associated with the gentleman. However, must I really cease all communication with his niece, Miss Tyler? I find it hard to believe she is involved in any thefts. She seems so oblivious to much of what transpires around her. Mr. Tyler says he brings her along because no one at his residence has the time to supervise his niece. Her arrival the other night unaccompanied was an uncommon occurrence; I have not witnessed it before."

"That reminds me," Mr. Rhy straightened, his tone sharpening. "How is it that you can show compassion to his niece but not to our own daughter? Arguing over a painting you never cared for in the first place… I do not wish to believe you are merely hoarding any perceived inheritance for yourself though -at times- you do seem to claim whatever you desire as stolen."

"As to claiming things have been stolen, I will concede there is ample room for error regarding the perpetrator, but items are indeed missing…" Patricia requested permission to retrieve a jewelry set he had given her, to which Mr. Rhy assented. Shortly thereafter, she returned. "Examine these pieces and tell me if they are the same set you presented to me on our wedding day. And observe the painting in the hallway leading to your office."

"Oh, my," Richard uttered, visibly shaken after inspecting the artwork and the jewelry set.

"Now do you understand why I initiated the accusations? Although I was horribly mistaken to specify individuals, I ought to have left that to you. My other actions have indeed painted me as a gold-digger for I never did explain my actions, and for that, I am accountable."

"What of our daughter?" Mr. Rhy inquired.

"I harbor no ill will towards Mahalia," Mrs. Rhy confessed, her posture deflating with the admission. "Initially, upon realizing the severity of her physical condition, I became overly protective… Reflect upon our earliest disputes… What were they all concerning?"

"Her walking," Mr. Rhy acknowledged, adding "alone" when prompted.

"And some of those quarrels arose because I was not as involved with her as she believed I should be. She insisted I attended too many soirées with my friends without her."

"You did," Mr. Rhy retorted with an edge of sharpness.

"I believed that by doing so, I would not be fostering her dependence on me, thus preventing her from becoming too reliant on a society likely to view her disability unfavorably. Moreover, I overheard your brother speaking at a gathering…" A genuine tear threatened to escape its confines, one Patricia struggled to contain, for she had no intention of manipulating her husband's perceptions in any manner.

"What did he say?"

"That Mahalia harbored resentment towards me for marrying into the family, that she wished to be left alone. Thus, in addition to desiring her to be independent and capable of self-care, I deemed it prudent to maintain a distance between us to avoid exacerbating any offense," Patricia further explained that during her upbringing, she was instructed that mothers in the law who lavished excessive attention on children already present in the home were perceived as weak. "I aspired for Mahalia to perceive me as a strong mother figure, regardless of her age; one who would not transgress her boundaries."

"I am quite certain you have misinterpreted my brother's words," Mr. Rhy reassured as he took a seat beside his wife, placing a comforting hand over hers. "Mahalia's resentment towards our marriage only began to surface when she encountered the barrier you erected. Our daughter is not inherently the type to be overly dependent. However, even if she were, our marriage can only endure if you extend warmth towards my daughter, despite her now being married herself." He then inquired about the painting and why she had expressed such vehement objections to it after clearly stating her dislike for it.

"But you loved it, and by the time she went to take it to her room I had resolved that it should remain for your sake," she responded. "I should have just told her that, but at the time I was not thinking straight and by the time I figured out why...I felt it was too late to fix the damage. Though, I see now I should have tried." Her words did not have to be explained, Mr. Rhy knew she spoke of the miscarriage that neither one of them had told the family about. Patricia then broached the subject of Miss Tyler, observing Mr. Rhy's reaction as she mentioned the young lady. "I comprehend and consent to the exclusion of her uncle and his associates from our home. But Miss Rosie? She is… different… even I can discern that."

"I am uncertain; I shall give it thought," Mr. Rhy replied, aware that his decision would hinge on the information provided by Mr. Brackenridge and Mr. Hartung come morning.

The morning arrived swiftly, and Mr. Rhy found himself at the groundskeeper's residence before the arrival of the man or his assistants. Consequently, Mr. Hartung and Mr. Brackenridge were greeted by Mr. Rhy at the threshold. Neither gentleman was taken aback, and both were amenable to being escorted inside.

"So?" Mr. Rhy inquired, arms folded, as he relayed instructions to his guards to deny entry to Mr. Tyler and his companions.

"I would be inclined to assure you that Miss Rosie, if left to her own devices on the property, would be entirely benign. I harbor no doubts regarding her harmlessness towards you, your wife, or even the smallest creature."

"And yet?" Mr. Rhy anticipated the caveat, suspecting it was evident enough to be discerned from afar.

"She was not meant to be here last evening. While you were engaged in conversation with your wife, a nurse arrived in haste, accompanied by Mr. Tyler's coachman, in search of Miss Rosie. It appears that Miss Rosie is capable of functioning only within specific, controlled environments. Her uncle would have committed her to a mental institution long ago if not for her parents' will, which precludes such action but does provide for a well-trained nurse. Therefore, the assertion that no one would supervise his niece during their visits here, I surmise, was a ruse to preoccupy your wife." His words exposed yet another lie Mr. Tyler had told Mrs. Rhy.

"So, let us set them up."

"Sorry, no can do."

"Why not?"

"Just received word the largest share of the men have left the area, I think Miss Rosie meant to warn your wife of something and never got the chance. We interrupted that. And we cannot arrest Mr. Tyler as we only suspect his part in it; there is no solid proof. "

"On one hand, I am thrilled...that saves my business if the men who robbed it are gone." Mr. Rhy gave a half-hearted smile but then tossed out a hand. "But on the other hand, Great ...those crooks got away and you cannot pin Mr. Tyler for anything."