After three seconds, Hazel cleared her throat and took charge of the conversation. “We have been writing back and forth since having first met here when we were told of our inheritances, Uncle Elliott,” Hazel said, her voice softer, which Duncan preferred. “We have gotten to know one another and respect one another, and both of us are facing personal situations that make the inheritances you have created timely advantages for us.”
“But you do not love one another. You are making this decision for increase, not desire.”
“That is precisely what your inheritances support—financial increase,” she said.
“You are attempting to manipulate the situation,” Uncle Elliot said sharply.
“That is incorrect,” Duncan said, offended by the suggestion that he would be disingenuous. “We are utilizing the opportunity you created for the betterment of both of our situations.”
“Will you live together as man and wife? Will you have children together?”
“No,” Hazel said. “Should I buy Cordon Academy, as is my goal, I would continue to live in King’s Lynn. Duncan will remain in Ipswich. Our lives will be improved, which should bring you some satisfaction that your inheritances were put to good use. You did not dictate love or children in your inheritances, only a partner of approved situation, which we fulfill for each other. I have no other prospects, Uncle Elliott, and Duncan is thirty-seven years old.”
Duncan did not understand why his age was of any consequence but said nothing as Hazel’s intensity deepened. He had had women speak to him with that sort of intensity before, and he found it disagreeable, therefore he did not want to draw that intensity to himself.
“I will not agree to it,” Lord Howardsford said firmly.
Duncan was stunned by the refusal and felt his chest heat up. “That is unfair, Lord Howardsford! We have presented our situations clearly.”
“I agree, Uncle,” Hazel said, her eyes narrowed. Her anger did not help Duncan’s attempts to remain calm. He could not go back to Perkins & Cromley on Monday morning without this plan in place!
Hazel continued, “You told me that you had created an equal opportunity for all your nieces and nephews. It’s unfair for you to prevent us from collecting when you have let others. Peter and Timothy found wives and—”
“They did not try to turn my gift against me!”
“We are turning nothing against you!” Duncan said, his hands forming into fists. Da’s voice came into his mind, Anger can cloud your judgment. Leave the situation if you can. Duncan did not want to leave, but neither did he want to lose his temper. It could be difficult to calm himself once that happened. He took another breath, but his heart was racing and his fists were tightening. This was not fair! Lord Howardsford was not being fair!
Hazel slapped the desktop, and the percussive sound sent a shot of temper through Duncan’s chest, increasing his anger until it crackled like a fire.
“How is it turning the gift against you if we are simply enacting it according to your terms?” she asked.
“As I said,” Lord Howardsford said between tight teeth. He was angry too, which fueled Duncan even more. “You are willfully misinterpreting the proposal—”
“That is an unfair accusation!” Duncan bellowed, the words reverberating in his chest. He jumped to his feet with his fists clenched at his sides.
Lord Howardsford leaned back in his chair.
“This is unfair!” Duncan yelled, then pointed to Lord Howardsford’s face. “You are prejudiced, unfair, and unfeeling!”
It had been a long time—years—since he’d let anger override his control, but that was because Duncan lived a careful and structured life that prevented variables that left him feeling powerless and misunderstood. It had not been so long, however, that he did not remember the steps to calming himself down. The first step was to remove himself from the situation. He did not want to leave, but if he waited much longer he might lose the presence of mind necessary to make the decision. He turned on his heel and stomped out of the room with his fists clenched and his blood pounding in his ears.
He would have to go back to work on Monday.
The distance between him and the partners would continue.
Mr. Ludwig would continue to treat him rudely.
He would not have his own office.
Mr. Southey would continue to dump his bin in the alley and antagonize Delores.
Nothing would change.
Nothing.
Would.
Change.
Duncan had been to Howard House only a few times and had never been in Lord Howardsford’s study before today, but he remembered all the correct turns to go down the hallway, stairs, through the music room, across the entry, and out the front door of the house.
He continued walking until he came upon the back garden he remembered from his visit in the spring. The plants were not in bloom now as they had been then, seeing as how it was September. He sat on the stone bench, clasped his hands together, and began counting by sixes. Each time the number ended in a six, he doubled it and continued.
Thirty.
Thirty-six.
Seventy-two.
Seventy-eight.
Eighty-four.
Without the marriage inheritance, he would have to continue tolerating Mr. Ludwig’s inept abilities and dishonest work practices. He would continue to be ignored by the partners. He could lose his position entirely.
How would he find another position? He knew his manner made some people uncomfortable. Could he find another firm that would see past his social limitations? Lord Howardsford had arranged the original apprenticeship with Perkins & Cromley twenty years ago, but Duncan did not want to ask for Lord Howardsford’s help anymore. There were three other accounting firms in Ipswich, but none of them presented as an attractive substitution for an office of his own where he answered to no one.
The application to Lord Howardsford should have worked. He hit his closed fist against the stone bench, taking strange comfort from the pain that shot up his arm. He stood and began to pace across the stone walkway.
Ninety.
Ninety-six.
One hundred ninety-two.
One hundred ninety-eight.
Two hundred four.
His fists clenched so tightly he could feel his fingernails digging into his palms.
It should have worked!
Hazel often wondered how she would react in certain situations if she had two good feet. Right now, she felt sure she’d have followed Duncan out of the room. She was as frustrated as he was, but she suspected she possessed a few more skills when it came to managing difficult situations.