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Chapter 5

The steady, unexcitable clatter of Aldrich’s boots echoed throughout the Garrick residence. The house glowed with a dim ambiance as was usual for supper time. The chamber sticks casting long ominous shadows in the corridors as the majority of light was directed to the dining hall where the family shared their evening meal together, save for Aldrich, of course. He spent his evenings far away from his family home. In the company of people, he could actually tolerate. Tonight, he was mostly excited since there were rumours of the Marquess of Lansdowne making an appearance. The man had the wealth to more than match his title and Aldrich was determined to befriend him. It was a rare opportunity since the man had distanced himself from society life.

“Husband, may I have a moment of your time?” Aldrich halted as the voice of his wife called out from behind him. He turned to face her. She was still very beautiful despite the creases under and around her eyes becoming more and more prominent with the passage of time. He recalled the first time he saw Lavinia. She’d been the centre of male attention during her first season, for the first few balls, every time he sought to be placed on her dance card, it was always saturated. It wasn’t until after a full month into that season that he’d finally gotten a chance to dance with her. He’d decided that night that he would make her his, and he did. He made an offer for her hand the very next day. It was a shame that their relationship deteriorated over the years, he still felt love for her but he didn’t know how he was to ever trust her.

“Make it fast, wife. I don’t want to lose my spot at the gentlemen’s club.” His voice sent chills down his own spine. Lavinia recoiled at the gravel in his tone and he instantly and fleetingly felt regret.

“Can you not spend one day away from the club, my love? I fear our finances may suffer with two daughters to cater to.” She lowered her voice as a servant whisked past them carrying fresh sheets.

“Those matters are not your concern. That energy should be focused on maintaining the household matters.” Aldrich grasped his pocket watch and noted the time.

“Mendora’s 20th birthday is in two weeks.” Lavinia blurted out. Her eyes flickering back and forth between her husband’s face and the pocket watch that held his attention. A small, minuscule part of her felt relief that he still had it in his possession. It was an anniversary gift she had made for him after Mendora was born. The inside of it was engraved with the date of their marriage.

“The significance, dear wife?” his eyes held hers now as a hefty volume of oxygen infiltrated his lungs.

“Should we host a ball in her honour as we did for Teresa on her 16th birthday a few months ago?” her fingers knotted together as she awaited his response.

“A ball?” Aldrich couldn’t believe his ears. “Mendora has been disappointing our family for the past two years with her ghastly ideas and notions. Just look at the way she has been making a fool of the ton!” his voice grew with each passing word. “A ball would be wasted on her. We can’t even find a man dumb enough to marry her. At this point, she is a huge financial burden on our family.” His eyes were red, beads of sweat running down his temple.

Lavinia swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You promised to love all our children equally.” Her voice an unfamiliar creature to her own ears. Aldrich’s nostrils flared in response.

“Mendora!” his voice shook the very foundation of the Garrick house. The one or two servants still doing chores froze at the monstrous rumbling and eyed each other before resuming their tasks with indifference.

Mendora stood in the kitchen when she heard her name belted out. Her body acted on instinct and followed the path that led to the source. She hadn’t bothered putting down the basket in her hands.

“You called me, Sir?” her steps slowed as she approached the sight of both her mother and father. Her mother turned her face away from her. Not a good sign. Mendora hardened her resolve for an out-burst.

“You-” Aldrich paused at the sight of a basket in her hands. “Do not tell me you are taking our food to give to those beggars again.” He pointed at the offending concoction of weaved straw cradled against her mid-section.

“They are not beggars, Sir. The workhouses have many single mothers trying to take care of their issue. They are overworked and underfed. I am simply carrying some provisions for the children to boost their morale and concentration when I tutor them.” Mendora’s voice was calm, but her fingers turned white as her reigns tightened on the basket as if there were a thief in their midst and the scanty provisions were as valuable as gold. She was certain to some that food was as good as gold if not better. It ached her to know that she’d lived in luxury while she’d been sheltered from the despair ridden state of the world.

“Those women have only themselves to blame for their situation and here you are robbing our family of our provisions for sinful women and their bastards?”

Mendora scoffed. She knew her father could be cruel but her heart sank at his words. “Men make empty promises of love and security and yet it’s the female’s fault?” she glanced at her mother, hope a commodity she learned to not expect but that child in her that yearned for familial love and protection sought it regardless.

Aldrich checked his watch again. If he stayed but five more minutes he would miss his chance at being seated at the Marquess of Lansdowne’s table.

“You are too old, having no prospects for marriage or even wanting a marriage, to be living off our family in this manner. I can provide you with shelter as I am duty-bound to do in order to save your sister any further humiliation but since you have no desire to benefit this family with an advantageous marriage, you must find ways of feeding yourself from onwards.”

“Husband!” Lavinia snapped to attention. This was too far. “You cannot possibly expect-”

With the wave of a hand, she was silenced by Aldrich. Lavinia glanced at her daughter in dismay. Her chest boiling in agony.

“I was addressing Mendora.” His serpent-like tongue seemed to wisp in between words.

“As you see fit, Sir.” Mendora replied. Her mother’s gaze fell upon her now. Her eyes widened in horror.

“Good. I am off.” He turned on his heels and vanished through the corridors. Lavinia came to stand in front of Mendora. Mendora smiled up at her mother’s sad eyes.

“I am certain your father doesn’t mean it.” She took Mendora’s hand in hers. Mendora couldn’t find the words to quell her mother’s confusion and sadness. She feared that any words she might speak may worsen the situation.

“I am going to finish packing this basket for the morning and then head to sleep.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips on her mother’s rosy cheeks.

“Are you not having supper with us tonight?” her mother questioned.

“I am exhausted. Teresa has been crying nonstop over the whole business with Sir Henry for the past two days. I think she and I will benefit from some space from each other.” Mendora made her way to the kitchen and made a mental note to send a letter to one of her acquaintances.


Solaire allowed his eyes to roam the occupants of the gentlemen club. It was filled to the brim with men and courtesans. He found it impossible to ignore the wedding bands on the majority of the male occupants.

“That’s our table.” Solaire directed his attention towards the words of his acquaintance, Nicholas Rosalind. Solaire’s mind was still abuzz from the nonstop drinking and gambling that he’d been shamelessly indulging in for the past two days.

“Gentlemen, I take it you remember the Marquess of Lansdowne.” Rosalind patted Aldrich Garrick and Nathan Saunders on the shoulder as the two recent additions to the party sat down.

“It’s a pleasure to have you join us tonight, My Lord.” Nathan Saunders, a man of approximately thirty-nine years welcomed them.

Solaire nodded his appreciation. “We were overjoyed since Your Lordship rarely indulges in any public societal vices,” Aldrich commented as he took a sip from his glass.

“I have been imposing on Rosalind’s kindness for the past few days so I feel inclined to make his usual rounds with him.” Solaire responded.

“Does that include covering up the existence of his mistress from his wife?” Saunders questioned. His words slightly slurred. The men laughed, all but Solaire who turned to his companion. “You have a mistress?” It was the first Solaire heard of it.

“Listen, my wife and I married out of convenience. It was a business arrangement. I needed a wife and her father needed connections.” Rosalind defended himself, while the men laughed once again.

“Love and Marriage are two things that can only last if they are kept separate.” Aldrich pitched in.

“Couldn’t have said it any better.” Rosalind clapped his hands in agreement and Saunders nodded absently. His eyes were drooping from his alcohol consumption.

“So you married out of convenience, had children, and yet fell in love with your mistress?” Solaire paused, “Why not just marry your mistress then?”

The men laughed in unison once again as if he’d said the most bizarre thing. “Our mistresses are not ladies of the ton. To degrade our own status to make them our wives would result in the loss of connections. Connections that our mistresses and wives enjoy the fruit of.”

“Is that love or control?” Solaire responded, his temples throbbing from the nature of the conversation.

“My Lord, we never would have taken you for a romantic.” Aldrich turned serious. The impression he had of this man was unweaving from its preconceived form and into something more appealing.

“I am no such thing. I just find it terribly inconsiderate to the off-spring who now have to navigate through life in such an environment.” Solaire responded as he called for another drink.

“Are you then saying that were you to get married, you would never keep a mistress?” Aldrich questioned. All men’s eyes were focused on him now.

“No. I think that if I wanted to continue being free-spirited in my endeavours I should not wish to complicate matters by bringing a wife and child into the mix.” He sipped his refreshed drink. He could no longer taste the alcohol.

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