All That Glitters by Sarah Richmond

Author:Sarah Richmond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781005138189
Publisher: Sarah Richmond
Published: 2022-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Edmund returned to Holland Park pleased with how his day had turned out. He patted the bank draught in his pocket. Amazing how a few quid could make the world a rosier place.

He looked forward to his dinner date with Dolly, Herbert, and Cecilia. He would be able to pick up the tab, as a gentleman should.

The footman met him at the door and took his hat and stick. Edmund shrugged out of his coat and handed it over.

“Your family is in the withdrawing room,” the footman said.

“Thank you.” Edmund headed in that direction. He wondered why tonight of all nights his mother decided to host a dinner party. Especially with Shaw away.

He suspected Mother intended for the occasion to be celebratory which could only mean Alice had made up her mind to marry Gadsden.

Edmund didn’t like the man. He didn’t believe Gadsden had changed, despite Alice’s endorsement. He would stomach the peer for Alice’s sake. Her happiness was important to him. He had to admit: Gadsden would give Alice the security and companionship she sought.

When he arrived, he heard shouting coming from the other side of the double doors. He recognized his mother’s voice near hysteria. He opened the doors. The sight before him made his stomach churn. Pater sat on the ground with his arms crossed and kicking his legs.

“Horace, do be reasonable,” Mother said.

“I want cake with my tea.”

Mother looked terrified. “We are about to receive guests for dinner.”

“I don’t want dinner. Tell the butler to serve me cake at once.”

Alice stood next to the fireplace clutching her handkerchief. Her eyes pleaded with Edmund to do something.

Edmund didn’t wait to be told. “Father, you’ll not get your tea and cake unless you behave properly.”

His father, a man who could intimidate a jury with a scowl, stuck out his lower lip.

“All right, then.” Edmund kept the sternness in his voice. “You leave us no choice. Time for you to go to your room.”

Pater looked up at his wife. “Who is this man? I demand to know.”

Edmund couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“This is Edmund, your son,” Mother said, gently. Thankfully, she’d recovered her poise.

“What’s it to be?” Edmund told his father. “Dining with the family or banishment to your room?”

Pater squinted. “You speak very boldly, sir.”

“I do and it’s for your own good.”

The two men stared at each other.

“Don’t just stand there, boy, help me up.”

Edmund took hold of his father’s arm and pulled him to his feet.

Alice kept her distance and glared. No doubt she feared Gadsden would arrive any moment. The scene they’d just witnessed would not impress a suitor.

Pater frowned at each one of them—there was no doubt he recognized them—before he collapsed into his favorite chair. A crisis had been averted and they all knew it.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go change.” Edmund bowed slightly, and his mother nodded. She seemed to have Pater under control—for the moment.

He left them reluctantly. How long would his father bounce back and forth between cognition and forgetfulness? It was a question nobody could answer.

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