“Please do not speak in that manner, Mother. You are going to recover perfectly well. There is no need to be afraid.”
“But, I should be afraid!” She coughed again. “What if I should die now? What would I tell your father about you?”
Adam frowned. “Mother, I beg of you. Do not talk about death. You are not dying. And you said – what would you tell father about me? Whatever are you talking about?”
“You are not married,” said his mother. “I still do not know why you have not found a proper lady to bring home. What is stopping you?”
Adam was confused. “Mother, when you get better, we can discuss my marriage.”
“No. That is the only thing that will make me happy. You must waste no further time in finding a decent young lady from a proper background for yourself.”
“But, Mother – your health is of utmost importance right now – ”
“For my health’s sake, my happiness should be of utmost importance. And if you do indeed want me to be happy, my son, you will do as I ask.”
“Mother, is this really necessary?”
“Adam…” she continued weakly, closing her eyes. “Please. I want to know that I will have grandchildren. Even if I die from the sickness, I shall die peacefully knowing you have given me your word.”
He sighed, seeing how adamant his mother was. There was nothing he could do save to comply.
“All right, mother. If this is what makes you happy, I shall do your bidding. I shall get myself someone to marry.”
“Do you promise?”
“Yes. I promise, mother.”
His mother smiled and squeezed his hands. “Thank you.”
“Can you go back to sleep now?”
She nodded.
Adam smiled at her and then left the room, having no idea as to what he would do now.
* * *
“And how is your mother?” Richard asked, as Adam came back to the parlor.
Adam sat down and shook his head. “She is fine. But I’m not so sure about myself.”
“Oh?”
“Mother just made me promise to find a suitable lady to marry. At my earliest convenience, apparently.”
Richard gasped. “What? I thought she was ill.”
“She is very ill, believe me. She thinks she might die. I have no choice other than to grant her what she wanted.”
“What do you plan to do?” asked Richard.
“I do not know.”
“Do you have someone in your mind that you could possibly marry?”
“No. I do not.”
“Then how are you going to get through this?”
“I shall – well, I suppose I shall do whatever I must to get myself married. I shall go to the ball and find myself a proper beautiful lady and ask her to marry me. Or what do you think?”
Richard sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “That is surely one way to go about it. But my friend, I would not trade places with you for anything at all.”
* * *
That night, before he slept, Adam made sure to look in on his mother. She was fast asleep and so he only sat down in a chair by the door for a time, watching her.
There was no question that he would do whatever was necessary to make her well, even if it would mean finding someone to marry as soon as possible.
He could not bear the thought of losing her as well.
After a while, he went back to his room. There was only one thing on his mind and that was finding a way to fulfil his mother’s wishes.
Adam climbed into his bed, shut his eyes, and took in a deep breath. What kind of a woman would he end up with? His parents had had an arranged marriage and somehow, they had made it work.
His father had once told him he loved his mother to death. Adam had never understood how that had benefitted his mother when her husband was gone and she remained behind.
Now Adam was to choose his own wife, though he really had little idea of what traits he was supposed to find in a suitable woman.
Of course, he would need someone from a respectable family. But how on earth would he find a lady of good background when he had corrupted almost every woman he came in contact with? Most of those were definitely not from a respectable family; else, they would not have been so easy to conquer.
If his task was merely to find someone beautiful, that would be simple enough. Adam was used to having beautiful women throw themselves at him almost everywhere he went. But the woman he married would become a countess and therefore must be far more than merely beautiful.
His mind went to all the numerous ladies he had come into contact with. They had only been acquainted with him for a short while and nothing they shared had lasted, for Adam soon became bored with most of them.
Even Trista, the only lady he had thought might give him lasting satisfaction, had ended rather abruptly and for the same reason: He was bored.
Adam often wondered how most men could spend years staying with one woman and never get bored. But that would explain why so many men ended up having numerous mistresses, and he did not want that.
He smiled. Even though he didn’t know what he did want, at least he knew what he didn’t want.
But right now, he was supposed to be finding ways to speak with Magnolia – which led to another important question.
What if he married Magnolia Richmond? She was the only woman he knew who came from a decent family and lately, he had not failed to notice how beautiful she had become.
Yet Adam chuckled at the thought of marrying her. That would be the most difficult thing to do, for she was the sister of his late friend – and she despised him.
He could only hope that somehow, things would sort themselves out. He had to find a way for his mother’s life might actually depend on it.
Adam drifted off to sleep with that thought still in his mind.
* * *
The next day, Adam woke up very early and went straight in to check on his mother. This time, she was awake and sitting up while she sipped her tea.
“Good morning, mother,” he said, walking towards her. “Do you feel better today?”
She gave him a weak nod and a faint smile. “Slightly better, yes, thank you.”
“Mr. Wheatleton would be here shortly,” he said.
“I see,” she answered, and sipped a little more of her tea.
“And I have a meeting with one of our newest tenants. I shall be back soon.”
His mother nodded and Adam left, feeling a little better himself at seeing her doing well.
* * *
The meeting had gone the way Adam wanted and he was able to return back home on time. His mother was asleep when he arrived and, minutes later, Richard caught up with him on the field where Adam was riding.
He was forcing his horse to gallop so fast that his jacket flapped in the wind. Holding tight to the reins, it seemed to Adam that his mind was in several places at the same time.
Had he been so stupid to have promised his mother to do the most damning thing? He had not thought so at first; but now, seeing how difficult it was, he was thinking otherwise.
Adam tried to believe that he need not be too hard on himself. He had only made a promise because he loved his mother, but now, he was beginning to regret it.
He should have asked for more time to think this through. What, exactly, would he tell his mother when he spoke to her later today? That he wanted to apologize and was sorry? That he had changed his mind about marrying at all?
That would undoubtedly send his mother to a quicker grave.
At least he noticed the white lather of sweat forming on the stallion’s muscles. Slowing him to a trot, he patted the animal’s neck – and then saw Richard approaching on his own horse.
“Beautiful day to compete, hey?” asked Richard.
“No. It is a good day, but not for a competition. Sorry, friend. I am in no mood for that.” Adam stopped the horse and dismounted. “I spent a considerable amount of time last night think
ing of how fast my life has changed.”
Richard chuckled while he also dismounted. “Did you not realize that, when you made the promise to your mother last night?”
“That is not the only thing on my mind. I must speak with Magnolia and I’m afraid I do not have much time – not with the new task my mother has put on me.”
“I’d wager she will be at the ball,” said Richard. “You can discuss things with her then and who knows? Your discussion might end up solving the other problem you have.”
Adam knew Richard was joking but ignored it. “Have you ever wondered what you want in a woman?” Adam asked, as they sat down on the grass.
Richard chuckled and shook his head. “Apparently, your mother’s words did get to you.”
“I just…” Adam started, and then paused before continuing. “I have never once thought I would be spending years with one woman. Marriage has never come to my mind and now, I doubt if I could find a lady willing to marry me.”
Richard scoffed. “You do know how women fall over themselves just to have you speak to them. I believe finding a woman – a wife – should be easy for you.”
Adam agreed with his friend but not completely. “Have you ever felt like there is something more to marriage?”
Richard frowned at him. “I must say, you are taking this marriage dilemma quite far.”
“No. I mean, have you ever just…” Adam sighed, unable to come up with the perfect explanation. “You once said something about love. But I have never considered that I might love someone, and I doubt if it will ever happen to me.”
“Why would you think of such? Love happens at any time, to anyone.”
“Well, that is your assumption,” Adam replied. “I have never experienced love before. Will it be enough to make a woman into everything I want?
Richard glanced at him. “It does seem a lot of ask of anything.”
“I have always grown tired of all the women I come across. I’m afraid I shall tire of my wife immediately after the wedding night. Then I would start looking for a mistress and be miserable for the rest of my life. Why do we place so much importance on marriage when it only leaves one lonely and miserable?”
Richard burst into laughter. “May I ask who you know that got married and became miserable?”
Adam considered. “I do not recall someone in particular. But look at my mother. She misses her husband even though she hardly talks about it. She has only fallen sick for a few days and is already talking about meeting him in the afterlife.”
“I have heard that love is beautiful,” Richard said, putting an arm around his friend’s shoulder. “I plan to find someone whom I love and who will love me in return.”
“You see, Adam – your mother loved your father and that is why she is not afraid to die. When you love someone so deeply, you will still love them even if they are dead. Love transcends everything. Even beauty . . . even death.”
But Adam was not convinced. “And you think once you find this love, all your problems will come to an end?” he sneered.
Richard shrugged. “Of course not. I believe that is when your problem begins. The thing is, you would not see it as a problem at all.”
Adam wished he could make sense out of the words coming out of his friend’s mouth, but he could not. To him, it was all rubbish. He would get himself a wife, make his mother content, and that would be the end of it.
“I think we should get inside,” he said, looking up. The sky had turned darker all of a sudden. “It is about to rain.”
Together, they stood up, each one leading his horse to the stables before they went inside the house.
Chapter 7
Magnolia was in her father’s study, going through more of the files that she had retrieved from the cabinet. After taking her bath that morning, she had resolved to find more clues.
There were four cabinets in the study. Each row held about ten files each. She was almost done with the second row but had found nothing yet.
She was getting tired. It would really be disappointing if she were to go through all this trouble and not end up with something useful.
Magnolia picked the rest of the files and carefully began to arrange them the way she had met them – and just then, the door opened and her aunt’s face appeared in the doorway.
“Magnolia! What on earth are you doing here all alone?” Aunt Dorothy asked, walking in and closing the door behind her. “I have been to your room, looking for you!”
“You shouldn’t be worrying yourself too much about me. I decided to spend some time in here.”
Aunt Dorothy eyed the file in Magnolia’s hands. The curiosity was visible in her eyes, but Magnolia was ready for anything her aunt might want to ask.
“Well, come along, then,” Aunt Dorothy said. “Breakfast is ready, and I have something to show you.” With that, she walked out of the room and closed the door after her.
Magnolia was surprised. She had actually expected her aunt to say something about those files. Without wasting time, she abandoned the files and walked out of the room. She would come back later and arrange the rest.
Some minutes later, they were both seated at the dining table, busy eating their breakfast.
“When will you be going back for your fitting, dear?”
“Later in the day, Aunt Dorothy,” Magnolia replied.
“Good! Because the ball is upon us and, lest I forget, I have something to show you now.”
Her aunt reached into her knitted reticule, which laid on the table, and brought out a sealed envelope. “This is our invitation to the ball!” Aunt Dorothy’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she handed it to her niece.
“One would think you had never been to a ball before,” Magnolia said, quite amused, and took the folded invitation. Reading it, she found that Lady Stewart herself had invited both Miss Dorothy Richmond and Miss Magnolia Richmond.
“This is so fortunate!” continued her aunt. “This invitation has come at just the right time.”
Magnolia frowned. “How so, Aunt Dorothy?”
Her aunt stared at her in surprise. “Why, because it will give us an opportunity to let people realize you are back! I should not be surprised when many potential suitors start coming for your hand.”
Magnolia tried not to roll her eyes. Marriage was the last thing on her mind, but she wasn’t going to tell her aunt that and spoil her excitement and anticipation for the ball.
“I must say, it was kind of Lady Stewart to invite us to the party,” Aunt Dorothy went on. “She knew how much we needed this!”
Magnolia said nothing more, for her mind had turned back to thinking of where else she could get more clues. She had searched through all the files in the drawer of the desk, but they had contained only her father’s business transactions.
The clues would be somewhere. She just had to find the right place.
“Magnolia?”
She looked up suddenly, surprised to see that her aunt was staring at her.
“Have you been listening to me, child?”
“Oh, yes, yes, Aunt Dorothy,” she replied. “I have certainly been doing that.”
“Well,” continued her aunt, eyeing her suspiciously. “You seemed to be carried away and you have been spending a lot of time in your father’ study. Is there something you are keeping from me?”
Magnolia frowned and shook her head. “No, of course not. I just like spending time in the room. His room.”
“Well, I pray that’s what it is. Whatever you are going through, I hope you know that you can talk to me?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“And I hope it does not hinder you from coming to the ball, for that would undoubtedly break my heart.”
Magnolia chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about, Aunt Dorothy. I shall go for my second fitting today and I shall attend the ball.”
Her aunt beamed at her. “Exactly what I wanted to hear!”
* * *
Later that day
, Caroline came over to Magnolia’s house. Aunt Dorothy stayed in her room to rest while the two young women sat in the parlor.
“Have you found any clues yet?” Caroline asked.
“Not yet,” Magnolia replied. “I think I haven’t been searching in the right place.”
“But – what exactly do you think you will find?”
“I hope to find anything that can serve as a pointer to whatever happened to them. I told you that I once heard James and my father talking about catching someone. If I can find the clues about the person, I will have all the information I need.”
A Mysterious Quest of a Seductive Lady: A Regency Historical Romance Novel Page 5