Authors: Violet Walker
M
rs. Ridgeley was slowly patting Charlotte's head as she was crying uncontrollably.
"Come on, my dear. Don't take her words to your heart. Lady Shirley was just blinded with jealousy and she didn't know what she was saying."
"Charlotte," she added softly. "Are you and Lord Thomas in love with each other?"
Charlotte looked up at her shocked.
"I saw both of you in the kitchen that night. The night we celebrated my birthday."
Charlotte felt her cheeks heat up.
"I had come to fetch a glass of water when I saw Thomas....ummm...kissing you. I quickly came back as I didn't know how to react. I thought of talking to you about it but when I saw that you were totally avoiding him, I felt it was for the best," she continued. "Do you think Thomas has feelings for you?"
"Oh! I don't know Mrs. Ridgeley!" she cried. "He apologized that night for kissing me, I saw regret in his eyes. But the way he looks at me sometimes, I feel as if he really cares for me. But love....? How can an Earl love a plain girl like me?"
"It is not impossible, sweetheart. Earls are humans too. And there have been so many instances where the nobility have married beneath their title because of love. The way he confronted Lady Shirley when she was mistreating you shows that he cares for you deeply."
"No, Mrs. Ridgeley. I can't live in false hopes. Caring for someone and loving someone are two entirely different things."
"Do you love him?" she asked softly.
"I do, Mrs. Ridgeley, I do," she wailed. "And I don't know how to control my foolish heart that wants the impossible."
“Oh dear! Charlotte I have known Thomas since he was a small babe. He has a heart of gold and I am sure he must feel something for you. Why else would he….”
Just then, Brandon knocked at the door.
"Lady Cornwall has summoned Miss Charlotte to her room."
****************
"Thomas, what is going on here in my absence? Why was Shirley accusing you of being indifferent towards her?"
"I have no idea, Mother."
"And what was she saying about you and Charlotte? Is it true?"
"No, Mother. I mean....yes, to some extent," Thomas replied sheepishly.
"Do you have any idea what you are talking about?"
"Mother, I don't know how and when it happened. But the truth is….. I think I love Charlotte. I know this may sound ridiculous, but no matter how much I try, I am unable to get her out of my mind."
There was pin drop silence in the room for a few moments.
"And does Charlotte also feel the same way about you?"
"I don't know. She has been avoiding me of late."
"And may I ask why?"
Thomas narrated the whole Mrs. Ridgeley-birthday-party-night incident to her.
"My goodness, Thomas! What were you thinking? You should have known that she's an innocent girl. I trusted you to keep her safe here and you only…. For the first time Thomas, you have let me down," said Lady Cornwall sharply.
Charlotte was by now outside Lady Cornwall's room but couldn't muster the courage to go inside.
"Do you have any idea how all this is going to impact the hydroelectric power plant project? When Shirley will tell her father about what happened today, not only will Lord Stanton cancel the engagement but he'll also refuse to invest further in that project that was your father's dream."
"I know, Mother. Do you think I have not thought about this? But you only tell me what should I have done? Should I have let Shirley belittle Charlotte like that?"
"Of course not, dear. I know Shirley's reaction was uncalled for. But you should have shown some restraint. Now the project shall suffer because of your behavior. Is there no way you can mend ways with Shirley?"
"Mother! I cannot believe this! You know that I love Charlotte and you still want me to mend ways with Shirley?" Thomas was shocked.
"Thomas, be practical. You know how much time and money you've already invested in the project. Do you want all that to go down the drain? And you know very well that you'll not be able to find another investor at this point of time."
Thomas knew his mother was right. On one side was Charlotte, the only woman he wanted, and on the other was that power plant that was his father's dream. He had to choose one of them.
Charlotte overheard the entire conversation. Lady Cornwall was right. This project had been HER father's dream too. He had often discussed it with her. Charlotte had to go from here. She couldn't be the reason behind the project's failure. Hundreds of people would benefit from that hydroelectric power plant. She couldn't be so selfish. She reveled in the fact that Thomas loved her. She could spend her entire life happily with this knowledge.
Charlotte quietly went back to her room. Thankfully, no one was around. She gathered whatever belongings she had and left the castle. She had no idea where to go. She could go back to her home in the village but Thomas would find her there. No, she had to go somewhere else.
But it was beginning to get dark. She would have to wait until morning to decide where she wanted to go. Charlotte decided to spend the night at her home in the village.
“
D
on’t worry Mother. I am well aware of my duty towards the people of this county. I’ll marry Shirley if that’s the only way to keep this project running,” Thomas said after a long pause. He knew he would never be able to love Shirley, but he was bound by duty—duty towards his people who trusted him blindly, duty towards the memories of his late father, duty towards Mr. Nesbitt without whose support and guidance, this project would not have been possible. He would have to stop his traitorous heart from dreaming about Charlotte.
“Thomas, I am proud of you,” said Lady Cornwall with a smile. “I knew my son would be willing to sacrifice his love for his duty.”
Lady Cornwall moved closer and held Thomas’s hand.
“But what kind of a mother do you think I am? You have done your bit by upholding your duty towards your people and now it is my turn.”
Thomas looked at his mother in confusion. What was she trying to say?
“Don’t look so confused, my dear,” she laughed. “As your mother, it is my duty to ensure that you get all the happiness that you deserve. If Charlotte is also in love with you, I promise you that she will be the woman that you get married to!”
“But…but what about the plant?”
“My dear, I know that you want to fulfill your father’s dream by building that plant. But don’t you realize that your father loved you too much to let you sacrifice YOUR dream for HIS dream. And I am sure our people would not want to light their homes at the cost of throwing their Earl into a life of darkness forever,” added his mother softly.
“Besides, Lord Stanton is a smart man. I am sure he would think it foolish to discard the project at this stage. After all, he will have to incur huge losses too if the project gets halted midway and it is not as if only the people of Devonshire will benefit from the plant. The electricity generated by it would light the homes in Rotherville too,” she explained further.
“Do you really think he would still be interested in this project?” Thomas asked skeptically.
“Well, we can keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best for now!”
********************
Lord Peter Stanton came storming into the Cornwall castle accompanied by his wife and daughter. He demanded to see Thomas and his mother immediately.
Brandon escorted them to the study and went up to call Thomas and Her Grace. Both of them were waiting for Charlotte to arrive when Brandon informed them about the Duke’s arrival.
The entire household got prepared for the drama that was to follow and no one noticed Charlotte’s absence till the Duke finally left with his family.
A
s Charlotte opened the door to her home, her mind was flooded with memories. What a peaceful life it had been! Just Charlotte and her father. Though she had sometimes felt a little incomplete without her mother, her father had showered more than enough love on her to fill that void. Her life had turned upside down since his death. She had cried more in the past few weeks than in her entire nineteen years of existence.
She would really miss Mrs. Ridgeley and her funny stories. She would miss all the love and warmth that was showered on her at the castle. And she would miss Thomas! The way he held her that night, the way he kissed her, the way he confessed his love for her….
Why was life so unfair? First, the person whom she loved the most left her all of a sudden and now, circumstances had forced her to leave the man who loved her. Fresh tears formed in her eyes. She wiped them fiercely.
She had to be strong. For Thomas’s sake. He had worked so hard these past weeks. She had seen him spend so many nights in the study toiling over the project. It was his father’s dream and her father’s too. She could not be selfish and ruin all that.
Suddenly, she heard a loud banging on the door.
“Charlotte, are you inside? Open the door, Charlotte!”
It was Thomas.
“Go away, my lord. I don’t wish to speak to anyone at this time.”
“Charlotte, please. At least let me explain. I know you were there when Mother and I were having that conversation. Mrs. Ridgeley told me. You know just half the story, Charlotte.”
“I don’t wish to hear anything else. Please understand, my lord. Whatever I am doing is for our best.”
“Don’t call me my lord! Hell Charlotte! Who are you to decide what is the best for us?” shouted Thomas. “Open the door or I am going to break it!”
Charlotte got up and opened the door. Thomas wrapped his strong arms around her. He could make out that she had been crying. Her eyes were all swollen and puffy.
“Oh Charlotte! Do you have any idea how worried I was when I couldn’t find you! We all searched the entire castle for you and here you are!”
“I am sorry, my lord….” came her muffled reply.
“Call me Thomas! I love you sweetheart and I know that you love me too. Please don’t distance me from yourself by addressing me thus.”
“Thomas,” she looked up at him. “What does it matter if we love each other? You are an Earl and I am just a common girl. Nothing can ever come out of this relationship.”
He listened to her in silence.
“Lady Shirley is the perfect match for you,” she continued. “She is your equal in status and position. And moreover, her father is investing…….”
He silenced her with a deep, passionate kiss. They both were breathless by the time he stopped.
“So you want to sacrifice our love for that project too?” he asked with a smile.
“Who else wants to do that?” she asked a little confused.
“Never mind! Shall we go inside? I want to explain a lot of things to you.”
Charlotte closed the door behind them. Thomas got seated on a chair and pulled Charlotte towards him. He made her sit on his lap and looked at her with love shining bright in his eyes.
“After you left, Lord Stanton came to the castle. He was obviously furious with me after God knows what Shirley told him. But I must say he is good man with his heart at the right place, much unlike his daughter,” Thomas smiled at her.
He continued, “When Mother explained to him that I was in love with you and that both Shirley and I would remain unhappy in a loveless marriage if we decided to continue our relationship, he understood the point. Apparently he had also been engaged with someone else but eloped with the present Lady Stanton and married her!” Thomas chuckled.
“And what about the hydroelectric power plant?” asked Charlotte anxiously.
“That project, my dear, will continue. He could have decided to stop funding it further, but that would have meant huge losses and no electricity for Rotherville. So though he is a little upset…no…. ‘furious’ with me, Lord Stanton is still my partner.”
“Oh Thomas! That’s wonderful!” cried Charlotte. And there it was again! That smile of hers. Thomas thought he would do anything to keep that smile in place.
“Do you mind if I kiss you again, my love?” he asked.
“I would mind, if you don’t kiss me right now!” Charlotte replied with a laugh.
And they both kissed as if there was no tomorrow!
EPILOGUE
Lord Thomas Cornwall’s heart swelled with pride as he held his newborn son in his arms for the first time. He looked so much like his mother!
“Isn’t he the prettiest thing on this earth, Thomas?” Her Grace was elated beyond measure. She had become a grandmother, for heavens’ sake!
“I agree, Mother! How is Charlotte?”
“She is absolutely fine, my lord. You all can go in and meet her,” Mrs. Ridgeley had the biggest grin ever on her face.
“Oh thank you, Mrs. Ridgeley. Have I ever told you that you are an angel sent to us from the heaven above?” joked Thomas.
“Now, now! You don’t need to bribe me with those sweet words, my lord. Now that the babe has finally arrived, you can spend as much time with Charlotte as you want,” chuckled Mrs. Ridgeley.
Inside, Charlotte looked a little tired but she was still as pretty as ever. Her face radiated with the joy of becoming a mother.
“Congratulations, my dear. You don’t know what a precious gift you’ve given me today!” Lady Cornwall kissed Charlotte’s forehead.
“Here mommy! Hold your little bundle of joy.” Thomas handed the baby to Charlotte.
As Charlotte held her baby for the first time, tears rolled down her eyes. She felt as if her heart would burst with joy.
Thomas and Charlotte looked at each other and Thomas gently kissed her hand. This baby was a proof of their love….love that had withstood all hardships….love that had grown with each passing day….love that had happened by chance……!!
THE END