“Watch the soot,” she said to the sweep.
“Doin’ the best I can, Miss Buxton.”
Maria turned, “Oh, Percy. Give me just a moment and I will be with you. Did Harry offer you refreshment?”
“Not today,” he said a little bitterly after he’d swallowed a dose of Harry’s harsh reality.
“Please go to the conservatory and I shall be with you presently.”
Percy walked amongst the tropical plants as he waited for Maria. His father did not care for plants. He found them fickle. But Percy greatly appreciated the fine specimens the Buxton’s had in their greenhouse.
Maria soon arrived with Daniels carrying a tea tray which he placed on a wicker table.
Maria she sat in one of the wicker chairs at the table. “Come, dear Percy. After a sooty couple of hours, I am parched and ready for tea.”
Percy joined her and sat opposite as she poured the tea and handed him his cup—she knew how he liked it—with lemon.
“I am sorry I have not been to visit you recently,” he said shyly.
Maria did not respond right away but finally said, “Yes, I understand someone else has been attracting your attention.”
This was not a good day for Percy. It seemed the whole world was ganging up against him.
“My father has been directing my time, lately. He is on a mission and I am his tool.”
Maria looked askance at him. “Not certain I know what you mean but I should like an explanation.”
Percy shifted in his chair as he thought about how to respond.
“My dearest, you know where my heart resides, but I am not at liberty to follow my heart, I am afraid.”
“So, it is true. Youareafter Anna’s fortune?”
“My father is, not me.”
“And you have no independence from him?”
“I must consider the welfare of my family, Maria. I am so sorry.”
Maria did not hesitate and said, “Then you must expect me to look elsewhere for a husband. It pains me to say this, but we are finished, Percy.”
He hung his head. “I am so very sorry, my dearest Maria. It pains me more than I can say.” She did not respond to him, and he looked up and added, “Then you must excuse me. I will keep you no longer. I must now perform another distasteful task. Harry has asked me to talk to my father about the possibility of compensating him for the loss of his cattle. I have told him it is nearly impossible, but I must try.”
“How could he have done that to us, Percy?”
“He is a broken man, Maria. That is the only way I can explain it—not excuse it.”
Maria appeared to have a welling up of emotion as she said, “It is not easy for you, Percy, is it?”
He shook his head, unable to speak as her sympathy brought tears to his eyes.
She stood, went over to where he was seated, and put her arms around him. She held him as he wept. Then he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and stood.
“I am so very sorry. Thank you for your compassion. Until we meet again.” Then he left.
* * *
Percy found his father in the stable where he was selling two of his favorite horses to a neighbor.
