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“I gave you no reason to hope for any such thing, and yet, here you are. I expect that you have heard there was a great deal of chaos that took place here yesterday. Is that why you were encouraged to come?” Lord Comstead asked.
“I was made aware that the truth had been exposed and there was a chance that you were inclined to believe it. Of course, I was not certain as to whether or not you had actually chosen to do so. It is my greatest hope that you now believe your daughter, but I cannot make assumptions and I must only live in the hope that you know how honest and precious she truly is,” Crispin said.
“Please, do have a seat,” Lord Comstead said. He then turned to the housekeeper and gave her a nod, which Crispin knew to be the sign for tea, or perhaps something a little bit stronger.
Crispin sat and waited for Lord Comstead to carry on the conversation. He didn’t want to say or do anything that might frustrate the Earl, but Crispin was also very eager to discuss the matter at hand.
“Now, I suppose we ought to address our previous meeting. I am sure you worried that I might be of the same mind today, but as you must now be aware, the truth has been revealed to me. I know what my wife has done and how her behaviour has impacted all of us. Her deception was shocking and you did warn me against that, although I did not wish to hear it,” Lord Comstead remarked.
“Yes, my lord, which I can understand. I ought to have been more tactful in my approach as opposed to making such blatant accusations against your wife. I am sure that I would have been furious if anyone had spoken so brazenly against the woman I love,” Crispin said.
“Well, I would not go so far as that. Love has very little to do with it, Lord Hanbrooke. But it is true that my wife is quite shocking in some ways and that she has done something very egregious. That matter is being handled as best as I am able, but I do wish for you to hear me out on this other matter as well,” he said.
“Certainly, my lord,” Crispin said.
“Now, Your Grace, I am aware that you care very much for my daughter. Is that still a true assessment?” he asked.
“Most definitely. I am quite fond of Lady Mary and I came here to speak with you about my feelings for her and the intentions which I have,” Crispin answered.
“Excellent. And what intentions might those be?” he asked.
“I should very much like to court her with the intention of marriage, Lord Comstead,” he replied.
“I see. And what is it about my Mary that you like so much? Why do you wish to marry her? And why have you not come to me sooner about this?” Lord Comstead asked.
Crispin took a deep breath and prepared to answer, trying to think about what qualities he loved most in Mary.
“I care for your daughter a great deal, Lord Comstead. I appreciate her intellect. I am amazed by her taste in literature. Certainly, she is quite beautiful. There are so many things. I have seen her kindness and how tender she is with others. That is a most attractive quality,” he said.
“Very well. I am glad to hear that,” he replied.
“And as to your other question, that is quite simple; I have not asked for your permission because you believed that your daughter was unfit for society and then you refused to see me. If I did not come to you, surely you must understand the reason,” he said.
“While I understand that I did not make it simple for you once the accusations had been levied against Mary, there was a brief season before that in which I believe you wished to pursue a match with my daughter. You did not make it plain to me then,” he said.
“Your wife made it quite clear that she wished for me to pursue her daughter and I did not see you around, Lord Comstead. You are not frequent at events and it is quite a challenge to find you for anything unless I come here. I am not intending to blame you for everything, my lord, but you must understand that it was not a simple task to try and make my way to you,” Crispin said, knowing that Lord Comstead truly had made it a challenge.
But Lord Comstead smiled to himself and nodded. “Yes, I suppose you are correct. I did not make it simple for you. Although I am very sorry for not having done better, I do confess that I would have found it rather impressive if you had approached me at once or found a way to reach me sooner.”
“If I may be so bold to say it, Lord Comsted, I would have been impressed if I had seen you care for your daughter as much as you seem to now,” Crispin said in response, hoping to gently make his point that Lord Comstead had failed Mary quite miserably.
Lord Comstead stiffened, but it was clear in his eyes that he agreed. He understood his failure. Crispin hoped that this would be a turning point, but he didn’t know for certain. After all, this was a proud man. A man who had a great deal of his own legacy to preserve and he had never been the sort to look out for anyone but himself.
“I suppose that is fair. But now, it is time for us to make things right. And I take it that you wish to make things right by pursuing a match with my daughter. Is that correct?” Lord Comstead asked.
“Indeed, my lord,” Crispin replied. “I should like nothing more in all the world than the chance to prove that I love your daughter and that she is everything I could ever hope for in a bride. In return, I shall prove to you that I am capable of taking care of her and giving her the life that she deserves. If you would be willing, I should like the opportunity to prove that.”
Lord Comstead sighed, trying to decide if he wanted to concede on the matter. But ultimately, Crispin could see in his eyes that his decision had already been made. And if the decision was final, it meant that Crispin would finally know now, once and for all, what his future would hold.
“Very well, Lord Hanbrooke. If you trust that you can be everything my daughter deserves, everything she has not had from her life here in this home, you have my permission. You may pursue the match and you may marry my darling girl,” he said at last.
Crispin’s heart leapt. He could hardly believe that this day had finally arrived. At last, he could be with the woman he loved. And at last, he knew where his heart truly belonged.
