Chapter 362: Hurt (2)
In the Fenwick home, Robert stared at the reports he received from the workers he recently employed. He hoped that if he stared long enough, what was written would magically change.
"What madness is this?" Robert asked, furious that his business was not going well. "They are stealing from me."
Robert received reports about men who wanted to do deals with him, suddenly pulling away after he had spent plenty of money to attract them, and workers had become injured, so he had to look for others to employ.
Robert looked at the records of what money he had was quickly drying up. He had gotten a taste of his old life and spent the money on what he missed. This habit was draining him.
"I need to get more," Robert said, beads of sweat starting to drip from his forehead. "I need men to do business with."
Robert immediately thought of Cassius. He had been so kind as to offer him the money, and since Cassius was going to marry Harper, there would be more money to claim.
"I must see him," Robert said, getting to his feet.
Cassius was going to be Robert’s way back to his former glory. Cassius was a known name around the town as of late, with many men flocking to him.
With Cassius at his side, Robert could get the men in Lockwood to trust doing business with him.
Robert exited his study with the sole intention of travelling to see Cassius. The sooner he could convince Cassius to marry Harper, the better.
When Robert reached the first floor, he was put off by the sight of maids hurrying around with flowers in vases and other decor, which appeared to be expensive.
"Beryl!" Robert yelled, his voice filling the quiet home. "Where is that woman?"
Robert counted the money his wife and daughter spent as the maids passed him. It was all taking away from the money he needed at the moment.
"Beryl!" The sound of Robert’s voice sent shivers down the hands of the nearby maids.
"Husband!" Beryl responded, rushing toward the stairs to meet him. "Why are you startling the maids? Do you like it?" Beryl asked, twirling to show off her new dress. "When the ladies come to see Harper, I must be dressed up."
"Pray tell me why you got another dress when you have plenty?" Robert asked, hardly impressed by what Beryl wore. "Act your age, Beryl. Do you wish to embarrass me by trying to dress as the young ladies do?"
Beryl felt a slight pain in her chest, disappointed that her husband didn’t think she was lovely.
Beryl touched the dress she so adored. "Young ladies? Women of my age wear these dresses. It is the newest style for the season. Do you not see what the other wives wear?"
"Do you wish for me to stare at other wives?"
Beryl frowned.
Why was it coming to this?
All Beryl wanted was to look good again and be complimented by her husband.
Beryl started to feel like she was going to lose her husband since she was unable to make herself as pretty as the other ladies because of their finances.
"You know I don’t mean it like that. We are back in good order, so I wanted to look nice for once. Do you not want me to look beautiful like the other wives? How can Harper be dressed up and I not do the same?" Beryl asked, heartbroken that Robert didn’t understand her.
"The other wives can afford it, but I think you women spend too much money on dresses and other useless things. We have a garden, yet you went and bought all these flowers," Robert said, his anger growing.
Robert couldn’t stop thinking of the cost.
Beryl laughed since Robert had to be toying with her. "Oh dear, now is not the time for you to be this way. I must help Harper prepare for hosting her first gathering."
"I think this should happen after she has been proposed to. This is money wasted that we could have used on the business or to pay the servants you employed for no reason," said Robert.
"Are you serious? We spoke at night about employing more servants, and you agreed to it. Have you forgotten just how excited you were to have more servants again? Or, to make our home look grand again?" Beryl asked, her voice rising.
Beryl would not have Robert make it appear that she was spending money without speaking to him.
"What has gotten into you? Tell me, what is it that troubles you? As my husband, you shouldn’t keep anything from me," Beryl said, worried they weren’t in a good place again.
Beryl wished that Robert were simply in a bad mood, and it would soon change.
"I will do as I must for this family and not have to explain anything to you. You are well wed and cared for. Focus on helping our daughter find a good husband. If we had many sons, I would have some help," Robert muttered.
"You, what has gotten into you? How could you speak of sons when our son passed? Do you think it was my fault that he fell sick? Answer me," Beryl said, refusing to let Robert get by her without answering.
"I don’t want to speak of this now. Do what you must to help Harper marry Cassius. We need him so we will not fall back as we once were, and hosting a gathering will not be the way to help her get his attention," said Robert.
Beryl stepped away from her husband and asked, "What are you saying? Surely, you aren’t going to ask us to cancel the gathering that we have been so carefully planning. That our daughter has been speaking of since we spoke of it."
"That is what I am suggesting, and I expect you to understand," Robert responded.
"No!" Beryl exclaimed as she started to follow Robert toward the door. "I do not understand. We agreed to do this for our daughter, but now you wish to take it back as if I have done something wrong. Explain yourself. Please," Beryl pleaded.
What had caused Robert to be as he was now when so many arrangements were already made and the invitations sent out?
Beryl’s heart sank when she realised what it could be. "Are we without money? You said that we would be well again to marry Harper off. Please don’t tell me that we are back in that position again."
Beryl could only think of Harper being embarrassed that she had to cancel a gathering. The ladies would not all be understanding.
"We mustn’t stop Harper’s gathering-"
"Stop?" Harper’s voice interrupted the conversation. "Why would we stop it?"