An Inconvenient Trilogy Part 51

"You must," Thomas insisted. "Why can you not afford it? What else has a woman like you to spend her money on?"

Martha looked at her brother, tears springing to her eyes. She should be stronger than to have such an extreme reaction to an unkind remark, but whether it was because she had been involved in a wedding, or whether part of her recognised herself all too clearly in Thomas's words, she did not know. Her instinct was to flee the room and never see her brother again, but of course she could not act so hysterically. So, she sat, trying to fight the overwhelming sadness that threatened to drown her that Thomas's words had caused.

Just as she was about to try and respond to the question, she heard a noise from the door and turned to see Charles walking into the room, with a look of anger on his face the likes she had never seen before.

Charles strode over to Thomas and punched him squarely on the jaw before the other man knew what was happening, let alone what had hit him. Sugar fancies and china plates scattered across the room, as Thomas fell backwards, kicking the occasional table with his feet, as they left the floor.

"Don't you ever speak to your sister, the one who has stood by you more than any other person would ever have done, in such a way again. The next time I hear anything like that uttered from your mouth, it won't just be one punch I issue. Do I make myself clear?" Charles snarled at Thomas, standing over him, like an animal ready to pounce. Anger was pulsing from his body as he waited for Thomas's response. "Well? Are you only brave in front of someone who is more disadvantaged than you are? I would hate to see how you treat your tenants, you are nothing but a coward, living off the spoils of others."

"Charles!" Martha exclaimed, her heart was pounding at the sight of Charles coming to her defence in such a way, but she automatically tried to defend her brother.

"He has used you for the last time Martha," Charles said, without looking at her. He was focused too closely on her brother, almost willing him to say the wrong thing again.

Thomas looked at the man stood over him, while he rubbed his jaw. Charles had guessed right in that Thomas was a coward, but he was in his own house, which gave him some confidence, as all the staff would do as he bid. He struggled to stand, but then tried to square up to Charles, the action did not quite work, as Charles was athletic, trim and fuelled by righteous anger, whilst Thomas was rotund, smaller and not quite able to look at the indignant man with conviction.

"How dare you come into my home and attack me like this!" he spat at Charles. "I will be sending for the magistrate unless you leave immediately."

"I am leaving, not because of your threat, but because I cannot stand to be in the company of such a parasite," Charles hissed, his face going close to Thomas's, causing the smaller man to take a step backwards. "I imagine that if your accounts were examined, we would find one of two things. That either you are a man overspending at every opportunity, or even worse, you have a substantial nest egg that has been obtained by draining your sibling's resources."

Martha could not believe Charles's audacity, and was just about to step in and stop the situation from deteriorating further when she saw Thomas colour at the second accusation and she suddenly felt very, very sick.

Charles had also noticed the change in Thomas. "So, you have been taking money off them at every opportunity and feathering your own nest? You are worse than I thought." Charles stepped back shaking his head, he did not want to touch the man before him again. The thought of what worry and hards.h.i.+p he had caused Martha was making him want to forego all reason and find something to pummel the man until he could do no more harm.

"Thomas?" Martha asked, finally able to speak without tasting the bile that had threatened to rise at the realisation of what her brother had done.

"What?" Thomas snapped. "Oh, I see you looking at me as if I'm in the wrong! Well before you condemn me, just think what I have had to put up with all these years."

"I know selling the land and making the remainder profitable must have been hard," Martha acknowledged, always fair. "But surely, once you started to make a profit, we could have stopped our contributions?"

"Oh yes, you would have all liked that wouldn't you?" Thomas snarled. "Leave me here to look after Mother and you all go off into the world without a care in the world! Do you know what it's like living here with her? 'Oh, I need this, oh, I need that, more medicine, Thomas!' Day in, day out, it's enough to drive anyone insane!"

Martha stared at her brother in disbelief. She no longer knew the man before her and more importantly, no longer wanted to know him. "I cannot believe that you have said that we have gone off without a care in the world! Do you have any idea what it is like being in service Thomas? Getting up day after day, knowing that the only time it will end is when you are too old to do it anymore, and hoping against hope that your employer will offer some cottage or room that you can afford to rent until the end. Do you know how insecure that future is Thomas?"

"It all sounds very dramatic," Thomas responded with derision.

Martha had seen Charles move, but placed her hand on his arm, this was her argument. "It is uneventful, rather than dramatic Thomas, I suggest you take some of my hard earned money that you have stashed away and take yourself off to the theatre, in order to experience real drama. I shall take my leave from you and shall not be returning. I suggest you also use your nest egg to pay for mother's medication in the future, as there will be no other communication from me, monetary or other."

"You have responsibilities here, you can't stop sending money," Thomas demanded, refusing to admit defeat.

"I can and I will," Martha said, standing. "I have given more than enough, including my retirement money, and you will not receive another farthing from me, Thomas! I shall also be writing to our brothers and informing them of what I am doing. I wouldn't want you writing to them and accusing me of falsehoods, now would I?"

Thomas lunged at his sister, the thought of losing all the income from all of his siblings too much to bear. Before he reached Martha, he was knocked out of the way by Charles, who bodily charged him.

"If you ever try to lay a finger on your sister again, I will kill you, do I make myself clear?" Charles snarled at Thomas.

"Get out!" Thomas hissed, once again on the floor in his own drawing room.

"Don't worry, we are going, I dislike the company in this part of the world," Charles said, offering his arm to Martha.

They walked through the door and Charles closed it firmly behind him. He gave orders for their bags to be packed immediately and for the carriage to be brought around. Martha did not say a word, but Charles could feel her trembling against his arm. She attempted to remove her hand from him, her sense of propriety overriding her need to feel his strength, but he placed his hand over hers, holding it firmly, but gently on his arm.

Charles and Martha remained in the hallway until the carriage was brought round and then they alighted. Martha had made no further attempt to be separated from Charles, not even to take leave of her mother. She had felt that if she left the warmth of Charles's hand, she would collapse in a heap and not have the strength to ever stand again. She had only tried to remove her hand because she felt that she ought to do so, but the relief that had washed over her when he placed his hand over hers had almost overwhelmed her, finding that she was grateful for his support.

The carriage finally set off, Martha did not look back at her home. She sat stiffly, looking forward, not really seeing anything and trying to stop herself from feeling as if she was rudderless and adrift.

Chapter 24.

Charles let Martha be during the day, he realised what a shock Thomas's revelation and behaviour had been. He had rarely felt so angry, he had wanted to inflict real harm on Thomas from the moment he had heard his callous words. He should not have listened at the doorway, he had not intended doing so, but he had instantly wanted to support Martha and could not walk away. When Thomas's words had demeaned Martha in such a way, he had acted without thinking, wanting to inflict pain on the person who had caused pain to the one he cared about.

He cursed himself silently. Martha would probably take him to task when she thought about what he had done. He had acted like a possessive child, but that was how she made him feel, not so much like the child, but far too possessive for his own comfort. He knew that he had no right to those feelings and that she would not welcome his interference, but he could not have stood by and seen her hurt, without doing something. Perhaps knocking her brother to the ground twice was not the best thing to have done though. She would never consider him a gentleman.

They travelled in almost total silence, only communicating when it was necessary. Martha felt drained, but having Charles with her was comforting. He did not demand any explanations and she was grateful for his tact.

They eventually stopped at an inn for the evening and after eating a small meal, Martha retired to her bedchamber. She was not sure if she would sleep, but she needed to be alone. She had intended writing to her brothers, but sat in front of a small table, with paper and quill, but unable to write the words.

A gentle knock at the door disturbed Martha from her reverie. She opened the door slightly, to reveal a troubled looking Charles.

"May I come in?" Charles asked quietly. Although they were in an inn, miles away from anyone who knew them, it was not appropriate for him to be asking for admittance to an unmarried lady's bed chamber.

Martha moved aside and allowed Charles to enter. "Is there anything amiss?" she asked.

"I cannot sleep until I apologise," Charles started, walking over to the fireplace and turning to face Martha.

"Whatever for?" Martha asked, surprised.

"I should never have behaved in such a way, especially in your brother's house. I'm sorry Martha," Charles said, his words rus.h.i.+ng out, needing to have it confirmed that he had completely lost any hope of securing her affection. He had convinced himself that once he heard her disgust at his actions, he would be able to accept that he had lost whatever sliver of hope he had and he would try to let go of her.

"There is no need to apologise," Martha said quietly.

"I acted like a brute, without sense or decorum," Charles continued, giving her the words he had expected to hear.

"I'm glad you did," Martha responded, not quite meeting his gaze.

It took a moment or two for Martha's words to sink in, but once they had Charles needed them confirming. "You are glad I acted as if I was in a tavern brawl?" he asked in disbelief.

"During the carriage ride, I thought that I have never had anyone coming to my rescue, as you did today," Martha started, flus.h.i.+ng. "But then I remembered that I have."

Charles did not realise stomachs could plummet into one's boots until he heard those words. "Who was it?" he asked, but his voice had dulled.

"You know him," Martha said, with the first smile of the day. "He was the one that promised that he would bring Elizabeth back to me safe and sound, he was the one who cared for me when Laura had been attacked and he was the one that today stood up against my cheating brother and gave me the strength to stand up for myself."

"Martha, I...." Charles started, not sure of how to express himself, but Martha stopped him, by placing her hand on his arm.

"I own that when we first met, I disliked you, perhaps it was insecurity, perhaps jealousy, perhaps even attraction," Martha admitted, flus.h.i.+ng a deep red. "But it was not very long before I realised that I had done you a disservice and I did not know how to right it. I'm sorry Charles, I am ashamed of how I have behaved."

"But you said no when I asked you to marry me," Charles said, struggling to keep himself under control. He had the feeling that this was a one and only chance to make things right and he was determined to make every word count.

"I thought it was a proposal made out of pity and I did not want to trap you into a marriage that you would regret. Perhaps there was some wounded pride at play too," Martha responded, looking down with embarra.s.sment at admitting so much.

"Oh Martha, do you not know me well enough to know that I would never have made such a proposal out of pity?" Charles asked exasperated.

"It was after Thomas's request for money, so I thought it must be," Martha responded honestly.

"It gave me the perfect excuse, to utter the words that I'd wanted to say for a long time, but I had guessed that you would not welcome me declaring myself like a love sick fool. It wasn't the best time to make the proposal, I realised that almost as soon as I'd said the words, but they were there, inside me, wanting to come out," Charles said with a shrug.

"Like a love sick fool?" Martha asked.

Charles took hold of Martha's hands and held her at arm's length, he still was not sure if she would push him away if he tried to hold her closer. "Have I not been completely transparent?" he asked. "I have thought that I was constantly revealing how smitten I've been for so long now, that I cannot remember when it started, but it was probably the day I first met you."

"But you tormented me," Martha said, thinking back over the times that he had angered her.

"I did not know how to act, you appeared so far above me in every respect," Charles admitted. "At first, I wanted to see if I could get beyond that cool, calm exterior. Another man would have achieved it through poetry and words, but not me. No, I went blundering in, and instead of making you fall into my arms, you hated me."

"I didn't hate you, never that, but I was so angry," Martha admitted.

"When I realised what I had done, it was too late," Charles continued. "I have only ever wanted you to be mine."

"Oh."

Charles sighed, this was not looking good. "Oh?" he asked. "Am I too late then? Are you going to turn me away again when I ask you to be my wife for the second time?"

Martha's eyes filled with tears, she had to ask the next question and although she wanted the truth, she dreaded the response. "Be honest with me, please. Are you asking out of pity after what has happened today?"

Charles squeezed her hands. "I once asked you to trust me and you said that you did," he started, looking her directly in the face. "Do you still trust me?"

"Yes," Martha responded, feeling breathless all of a sudden.

"Good," Charles replied with feeling. "I want to marry you because you drive me to distraction, because I want to be the one who you drape your hair over while you sleep, because I love you and not through pity, but because you are a beautiful, vibrant, capable woman, who I would be proud of to call my wife."

Martha took a deep breath and a slow smile spread across her face. "In that case, I suppose I should say yes." Her laugh was lost as Charles pulled her towards him and kissed her, not gently as he had intended, but fully, forcefully, the kiss of a man in love, who had waited too long.

Martha responded to her man. Yes, her man, by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close. The day that had seemed to end so badly, had ended in the best way possible. Charles loved her, he actually loved her and she loved him. She had admitted it to herself, but being able to acknowledge it openly and tell him again and again, made her feel lightheaded.

Charles took pleasure in the woman in his arms, who was responding to him as she had never responded before. Every time he thought that he was pus.h.i.+ng her too far, she responded with a small moan and held him closer, encouraging him further.

He forced himself to pull back and although he cupped her cheek in his hand, he stopped kissing her. "We need to marry soon," he said, taking deep breaths in an effort to control himself. "I can't be responsible for my actions if we are forced to have a long engagement."

Martha smiled, "We are too old for long engagements."

"Speak for yourself, there is life in this old dog yet," Charles said, nipping her bottom lip with his teeth.

Martha moaned softly. "How soon were you thinking?"

"Special licence?" Charles asked.

"Definitely," Martha agreed, trying to kiss Charles. She felt as if they had talked for long enough.

"Martha, stop," Charles groaned, returning the kisses, but trying to keep control, not easy when the love of your life, was being as tempting as Martha was. "If we continue...."

"Yes?" Martha asked.

Charles pulled away again, "Martha, there comes a point when a man's resolve disappears and there is no turning back. I am reaching that point, I need to leave before you force every rational thought from my mind."

"I had hoped that you were already beyond that point," Martha said provocatively, but the words caused her to blush, showing her innocence.

Charles almost sank to his knees with the effort of keeping his actions under control. "Martha, you don't realise what your words mean. If I stay..."

"I want you to stay, I know what my words mean," Martha said quietly. "We have both been foolish, I don't want to be apart from you another moment."

"Oh G.o.d, Martha, I love you," Charles said, picking her up in one easy movement. He walked over to the bed and laid her down gently. "We will never be apart again."

Epilogue.

Alfred became an efficient steward, as Charles had antic.i.p.ated. He took on the role seriously and worked hard to ensure that Home Farm was as efficient as it could be. He instilled loyalty in the small staff that worked in the house and the tenant farmers that worked on the land.

He did not marry until Frederica was fully grown. Being the steady man that he was, he took his commitment to his daughter as seriously as he took every other task he took on. Frederica grew up, secure that she was loved and although knowing that her father had loved her mother, she was not told of the history that brought her parents together. When she married a local farmer, she was delighted when her father married the maid who had cared for her throughout her life. The young maid had become her subst.i.tute mother and for Frederica it was perfect that the two people whom she loved as much as she did her husband, should find happiness together. Lord and Lady Halkyn took a keen interest in Frederica throughout her life and provided her with opportunities that she would not have normally had, which enriched her upbringing even more.

Alfred loved Laura until his dying day, but he was able to open his heart eventually to another love and was loved in return. He had no other children, but he found contentment with his wife and they both indulged their grandchildren as they increased the size of their family.

Charles and Martha returned to Dunham House and were married soon afterwards. Charles insisted that he wrote to Martha's brother and although Martha had no idea what had been written in the letter, a few weeks later she received a letter of apology from her brother containing the money she had set aside for her retirement. Charles and Martha never mentioned the incident again and although Martha kept in touch with her family, she could never quite feel the same about her eldest brother.

They had two children, which was a double blessing, as Martha had presumed that her age would prevent her from having children at all. Charles had to endure two occasions when he prowled the house, as expectant fathers had done before him, while his wife was in labour. Two boys filled the house which had become their home on the Dunham Estate. Martha never tired of the noise, mess or tricks that her boys created. She was also able to provide a second home to the children of Lord and Lady Dunham, who visited on a daily basis, enjoying being in such a welcoming home.

Lady Dunham had been delighted that Martha had found happiness, but experienced a real wrench that the woman who had been her companion and friend for so many years, was no longer living under the same roof. Not one for visiting normally, there were few days that pa.s.sed without Lady Dunham walking down to Martha's cottage with her children and sitting down at the kitchen table, gossiping and chatting.

Every morning Charles awoke with a silent prayer of thanks. His Martha was not the prim and proper woman that he had first met. She was vibrant, pa.s.sionate and challenged him whenever she disagreed with him, which unfortunately for him, was often. Luckily for Charles, he could always bring a smile to Martha's lips when he took her into his arms and reminded her exactly why she had agreed to marry him.

Martha was finally living the life she had thought was out of her reach and had never been happier.

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