He worked for an hour and a half before Percy arrived in response to his note.
Percy came into the study and greeted, “Harry, old chap, did you want to go fishing? I am up for it, but I forgot to bring my rod. Have you got an extra one?”
Harry stood up from his desk. “No, Percy… no fishing today. Something has happened that is much more serious.”
“Oh?” Percy said, and hooked his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets. “Is it about Maria, perhaps? I fear you are going to scold me for neglecting her.”
“That is a matter for you to take up with her. No, it is something else, and it concerns your father.”
“Oh, dear, what now?” he asked, as he collapsed into a chair and threw his hands in the air.
Harry sat opposite him and narrated the events of last evening, then asked, “Do you know anything about this?”
Percy hung his head and shook it. “Oh, Harry, I had no idea he would follow through on his threat. He so often spews forth threats, rants, and invective, I did not always take it seriously.”
“What threat?”
Percy explained how his father was angry that Harry had told Anna about his father’s plans to have Percy marry Anna for her inheritance. “He threatened to do you harm but I did not think he would act upon it.” Percy was agitated. “What do you plan to do?”
Harry stood up and said, “My first thought was to take Mr. Polder to the constable and have him witness to your father’s crime. Then have your father arrested.”
“Oh, Harry…”
“Now wait. But I have reconsidered.”
“What then?”
“I believe it would be wrong of me to accuse a fellow peer. So here is what I propose. If your father will pay me what it will cost me to replace the cattle that were killed, I will let the rest go.” Percy was silent. “You have nothing to say?”
He sighed. “Harry, what kind of money are you talking about? For I fear he will not be able to pay you. He is so far in debt we can barely pay for our provisions. The household staff has not been paid for months and they only stay on because we can, at least, feed them. I think it is entirely unrealistic to expect him to pay you any time soon.” Percy bowed his head. “And that is why I am courting Miss Anna. It is currently our only hope.”
“Then you have abandoned my sister?”
“Sadly, I have. I have no other choice. Maria does not have the sort of dowry my father needs to be made whole.” Harry turned from his friend and paced. “What will you do about my father? Will you bring suit against him for the cattle?”
“He has no other assets?”
“None. He has sold or mortgaged everything we own. I am so sorry, Harry. I truly feel horrible.”
“How much does your father need to be made whole again?”
Percy spoke barely loud enough to be heard. “At least twenty thousand… and more every day this drags on. Now if you were to sue him and demand payment for the cattle… it is just horrible to calculate the damage.”
Harry turned to his friend. “Percy, I do not know what is to be done. I need to think about it. But tell your father that I will not go to the constable for now if he agrees not to cause me any greater harm. Do you think you can get him to agree to that?”
Percy stood. “I think that might be possible. I will do my very best and let you know his answer as soon as possible.”
“Very well then. Maria was asking about you and requested you visit with her when we are done here.”
Percy nodded in agreement. “Are we done for now?”
“Yes. We are.”
Percy stood and said, “Now, out of the frying pan and into the fire. Maria is not going to be happy with what I must admit to her.”
* * *
Percy found Maria in the music room where she was overseeing the cleaning of the chimney. “Harry said you wanted to see me?”
