Harold hung his head and looked deeply sad. “It pains me greatly to tell you this.” He looked first at George and then put his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “But my adoptive father used to beat my mother and me mercilessly whenever he was angry—which was often. He could, without warning, explode in a rage and when I was little, I had to watch as he battered and bruised his wife and my adoptive mother. I felt terrible that there was nothing I could do at that young age to stop him.”
Lucy stood and, turning to Harold, put her arms around him, and leaned her head on his shoulder.
George, while appearing sympathetic, asked, “Forgive me for asking, Harold, but can you verify these as facts and not just a fabricated defense?”
Harold’s eyes turned cold, and he turned to his sister and said, “Excuse me, Lucy.” And he took off his coat, his waistcoat. Undid his cravat and unbuttoned his shirt, took it off and turned his back to George.
His back was covered in welts, scars, and areas of discolored skin.
“Is this proof enough?” he asked. “This is the legacy my—so called—father left me as I grew older and tried to defend my mother. Is it any wonder I misbehaved? It was not out of greed, but out of a desperately repressed anger so great it would take over, and I could not even remember what I did at the time of my rage.”
Lucy had tears in her eyes when she asked, “Brother, is that anger spent, or does it still crouch within you waiting to be unleashed again at any moment?”
Harold turned his eyes to her. “You need not fear, dear sister. I cannot say with absolute certainty, but after I was cheated out of my inheritance and I took all I could from the house of my dead parents, I felt like a bird released from a cage.”
“But Harold, you were still a thief,” George said, “a lawbreaker, and I cannot turn a blind eye to that fact.”
“I understand,” Harold said, putting his shirt back on. “And if there is any way I can make restitution, I shall. I will do anything I can to keep in your good graces. Can you advise me on how to do that?”
George turned away and began to pace, obviously trying to come up with a solution.
Lucy then asked, “Do you know whom you have wronged? Would you be able to contact specific individuals and return what you have taken?
Harold finished putting on his coat and said, “Many infractions were minor, and I have no recollection of who I wronged. I could repay the money to the person I stole the watch from. And there are many small sums I could return if I could recollect the individuals’ names. But many are lost in time. And as for my father, he is dead.”
“But there must be an estate you could contact,” Lucy suggested.
“There must be, but I would have to find out about that. However, I shall and will make a complete accounting to them and repay with money, although I long ago disposed of the property.” He turned back to George. “But I could only do that if I were able to continue working for you, Your Grace. Is that possible? Would you consider it?”
“There is yet one issue we have not discussed, Harold.”
“Yes?”
“Betsy. What are your intentions toward my sister? You know she cares for you deeply, and I need to know what your thoughts are toward her.”
“I had hoped, shortly, to ask for her hand in marriage. I care for her deeply as I believe she does for me.”
“Is it Betsy you care for or her dowry, Harold?” George asked pointedly.
“I can understand why you would ask that, Your Grace, but believe me when I say it is Betsy alone that I care for.”
Again, George paced and when he had finished thinking he turned back to Harold.
“I do believe you love my sister. I have seen the two of you together, and it is clear to me that the feelings of love are mutual. Then this is what I propose—if you, to the best of your ability, make a definite plan for restitution for all damage you have done, I will continue to employ you as my estate manager. But I will make certain that payments are made out of your wages on a regular basis until all is repaid. Will you agree to that?”
“I will, Your Grace.”
“And further, if you do marry Betsy, I shall withhold her dowry until the very last penny, farthing has been paid of your restitution.”
“But how shall I support her?”
“You may continue to reside at Grayson Manor with her until your encumbrance has been discharged. After that, I will release the dowry, and you may be free to live wherever you like—as long as it is a suitable situation for Betsy.”
“And what of my legal obligations?”
“Since no person was seriously injured by your actions—and considering your father’s behavior toward you and your mother—I see no reason to involve any public authorities.”
“Your Grace,” Harold said gratefully nodding to George.
