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T heodore rolled his eyes as his mother stalked into the drawing room, clearly displeased. “Mother, you must attempt to make it a little less obvious whenever you are displeased with me.”

Lady Albury snapped her heels together and drew herself up, even though, given Theodore’s tall frame, she was somewhat diminutive. “This time, my dear son, it is not you that I am displeased with.”

Theodore’s eyebrows lifted. “Then I am all the more astonished, for I am usually the one standing far from your good graces.”

His mother sighed heavily. “I think that if you continue in such a way then you shall find yourself just as you have described.”

With a small sigh but with an attempt at a smile, Theodore looked back at her. “Then do you wish to tell me what it is that troubles you? What it is that makes you appear so upset?”

“I shall.” Clearing her throat, his mother made her way to stand at the side of the room, looking out of the window before turning her attention to him. “We are here in London and I have found myself greatly displeased with the extravagance shown by my acquaintances whilst I myself have nothing to show!”

This did not make any sense to Theodore and though he tried to keep the frown from his face, he did not quite manage, garnering himself a furious look from his mother. Evidently, she thought that he ought to know what it was he spoke of.

“You do know that Lady Marselle has brought with her the most beautiful rubies from France?” she exclaimed, throwing up her hands as her cheeks went red. “And Lady Falkirk has shown off her diamonds which were a gift from her husband!”

“He is a Duke after all,” Theodore murmured, though this was not what his mother wanted to hear, given the way her face grew all the redder. “I apologize for my lack of understanding.” He put out one hand to her. “Please, what is it that troubles you?”

“I have nothing!” Lady Albury exclaimed, her eyes wide now as she attempted to make him understand. “I have left most of my fine jewels at the estate and you will not permit me to have the heirlooms, even though, by rights, they belong to me.”

This made Theodore frown heavily. “That is entirely untrue, though you are well aware of that, are you not?”

His mother looked away.

“When I took on the title, the heirlooms became mine,” he continued, gravely. “They are priceless, as well you know.”

“But I have worn them on many an occasion and you must know that I should take great care of them.”

“It is not about that,” Theodore answered. “Mother, you have many fine jewels and you are able to show off your wealth and standing just as any other can do.”

Lady Albury sighed and shook her head, her lips flattening. “I knew that you would not understand.”

Theodore lips pinched. It was not as though he did not have any understanding in this, for he truly did. His mother was someone who delighted in being admired – she always had been – and yet, if someone came to threaten that security, she had to push herself higher than ever before. Now, feeling herself standing below these other two ladies, she was demanding the heirlooms that did not belong to her, simply so that she might show herself to be just as great as they, if not higher in her standing.

And I do not want to do such a thing.

Theodore sighed as his mother put one hand to her forehead, now looking sidelong at him as if she were trying to work out how best to coerce him into doing as she wished.

“The heirlooms are, as you said yourself, at the estate.” Theodore shook his head. “I cannot return for them.”

“Why not?”

“Because it is a three day journey!” Theodore exclaimed, frustrated that his mother would be willing to send him away for the best part of a sennight to fetch the confounded things. “And I would be going there for very little reason.”

“Your mother’s contentment is a good reason, is it not?”

The manipulation hit Theodore hard and he looked away, his jaw tightening as his hands clasped together in his lap. It was not the first time his mother had behaved in such a way, not the first time that she had done whatever she could force his will. There were times that Theodore had been able to withstand her, had been able to put up enough of a defense to prevent her from forcing his hand but those times had been swiftly followed with more than a few difficulties, though his father had been alive at that time and had been able to assist him with it all. Now, however, it was only his will who stood against hers.

And I am wearied enough by it all already. Is this something that I truly wish to put up with at this present moment, especially when I am here in London for the first time since my mourning for my father came to an end?

No, he considered, that was not something he desired to endure now. After all, he was here for the London Season, wanting to enjoy himself in fine company and, mayhap, considering which of the young ladies of London he might be willing to consider, if he was to do so, but to have his mother frustrating him at every turn, whining and crying and demanding meant that every day, near enough every moment would be spoiled.

Inwardly, he groaned.

“I cannot go back to the estate for the heirlooms.” Again, he tried to speak firmly but his mother’s chin wobbled and a single tear fell to her cheek, making him wince. “Mother, what you ask is too much.”

“I do not think that any good son would find himself in a quandary over his mother’s happiness,” Lady Albury sniffed, looking away from him now, her eyes watery. “Do you want me to be shamed in front of my friends? Do you truly desire for me to lose my standing in society?”

“I hardly think that you will do so simply because you do not have the emeralds,” Theodore answered, though there was less strength in his voice now, his mother’s wheedling wearing him down as guilt ripped through him – guilt that he knew he did not deserve but felt nonetheless. “As I have said, I know that you have plentiful jewels and do not need to have the emeralds.”

“Are you sure you cannot send someone for them?” His mother came closer to him now, her hand going to his arm though her eyes were still filled with tears. “I should not have asked you to go yourself, that was selfish of me, I know.”

Yet more manipulation from her lips, Theodore thought, his jaw tightening. She means none of those things.

“It is only that I am so sorrowful over the mockery that is sure to come upon me when I cannot display the same wealth and standing as my companions,” she sighed, lifting her hand from his arm. “I am sure that there is a man you trust who would go to the estate and fetch the jewels for you? What about Whitaker?”

Theodore grimaced. “Whitaker is my man of business, not someone that I send on a fool’s errand.” The moment the words came out of his mouth, he knew that he ought not to have said such a thing. His mother let out a cry of seeming sorrow and turned away from him sharply, walking directly across the floor towards the door and flinging it open in a most dramatic fashion. Her wails did not stop, the echoes of them running through the hallway and up towards him, making Theodore wince with every one.

Sighing, he pushed himself to his feet and walked to pour himself a brandy. It was a little too early, mayhap, but his thoughts were now in disarray and he found himself in need of some restoration.

“Is it quite all right to step in?”

Theodore turned, glass in hand. “Castleton! Goodness, I did not expect to see you here!” Setting the empty glass down, he strode across the room and shook his friend’s hand, slapping him on the shoulder with the other. “When did you come back to London?”

“Only yesterday.” Lord Castleton winced. “It took me a fortnight to travel here and truth be told, I regretted my journey once I was halfway here! Much to my wife’s dismay, of course.”

Theodore smiled. “I am sure that Lydia did very well in convincing you to continue.”

“She did. And I would not have her upset,” Lord Castleton continued, with a small, gentle smile as he thought of his wife. “She did so very much want to be here, especially she is going to see her family. Besides which, her sister is to marry at the end of the Season and I know how much she wanted to be present for that.”

“Then I am glad she was so convincing,” Theodore answered, walking back to the brandy table. “Can I offer you a drink?”

His friend nodded, then cast a glance over his shoulder towards the door. “Might I be bold and ask if everything is quite all right?”

Theodore rolled his eyes. “You know as well as I how my mother can be.” Lord Castleton was more than a friend; he was Theodore’s second cousin though they considered themselves to be friends first. Thus, he was all too aware of Lady Albury and her ways, offering Theodore a sympathetic smile as he nodded.

“Then I can well understand your need for a brandy at this time of day,” Lord Castleton answered, with a chuckle. “Has it been very bad?”

With a glance at his friend, Theodore scowled. “My mother has come in to inform me that though it is not I that have displeased her, it is only I who can bring an end to her upset. Though when I have refused, that has caused her to become irritated with me also!”

“And what is it that you are refusing to do?”

Theodore quickly informed his friend of the story, making Lord Castleton snort when he heard the demand that Lady Albury had made.

“She cannot expect you to ride all the way back to the estate to fetch the heirlooms, can she?” he asked, as Theodore nodded. “Truly?”

“Yes, of course she can – and she does!” Theodore exclaimed, handing Lord Castleton a drink. “You know as well as I that the only person she thinks of is herself and that I, in refusing to do as she asks, have found myself now causing her great distress. No doubt she will make her way directly to Lady Yarmouth’s house and declare to her sister that I am the very worst son that has ever lived.” Letting out a long breath, he shook his head. “It does not help that my aunt is residing in London at this time also. She too will have something to say to me about this, I am sure.”

“And what are you going to do?” Lord Castleton took a sip of his brandy and then smacked his lips together. “You will not give in to her, I hope, for you cannot think to ride back to the estate, can you?”

Theodore shook his head. “I am determined to stand against her manipulation though, I will admit, that I have found myself weakening towards her.” He would not have told this to anyone other than Lord Castleton, disliking the fact that he was admitting his weakness but doing it all the same. “The words she throws at me causes me so much guilt, I find that I am quite broken by it all.”

Lord Castleton frowned. “I am sure that you do but you are quite right to refuse her.”

“She did suggest that I send Whitaker.”

At this, his friend’s expression grew dark. “You cannot send your man of business away from London to run an errand for your mother. Do you not need him yourself?”

With a small nod, Theodore looked away. “It is difficult when I feel guilt in my decisions.”

“But it is not a guilt that is right,” Lord Castleton stated, unequivocally. “You need not feel anything like that and certainly do not need to alter your plans. You must find a way to stand up against her.”

And feel the weight of her frustration settle upon me. Seeing his friend lift one eyebrow just a little, Theodore let out a groan. “It is not as easy as it sounds, my friend. The way that she wails and cries when she does not get what she desires, that is one thing, but I then must bear all of her frustration and all of her anger in various different forms – and all directed towards me! It is a heavy chain that tightens itself around my neck and the only way to release it is to give her what she desires.”

Lord Castleton prodded one finger into Theodore’s chest. “No. The only way to release it is to make her see that you will not give in, no matter how much she presses you! Your strength will prove that to her, whether you believe it or not. All you must do is endure.”

“Though whether I have the strength enough for that, I cannot say.”

“I shall help you,” Lord Castleton responded, quickly. “You have managed to do such a thing a couple of times before, have you not?”

Remembering the agony of the occasions when he had steadily refused, Theodore gritted his teeth and nodded. “That was before I was the Earl, however. Before I took on the title. My father was able to bear the brunt of it.”

Lord Castleton dropped his hand but fixed Theodore with a steady gaze. “Do not give in to her, my friend. Stay in London. Do what you came to do, to enjoy yourself and all that the Season will bring you! Show her that you will not be forced into doing as she desires.”

A sudden slamming of a door somewhere along the hallway made Theodore wince though, as his friend glanced towards the door here, as though expecting Lady Albury to suddenly sweep into the room, a fresh determination came over him. Yes, he concluded, his friend was quite right. Lord Castleton’s presence was more than enough to convince him that yes, he did have the strength to refuse his mother, no matter how much pressure and complaint she heaped upon him.

“You are quite right.” Finishing his brandy, he nodded to Lord Castleton. “Your words have brought strength back to my mind. I shall not move from my position; I shall not bend to her will. I am the Earl now, I am the one who bears the title and the responsibility and thus, the heirlooms remain where they are: at my estate.”

“Precisely.” Lord Castleton grinned and Theodore nodded, a small smile touching his lips. “And all will be well.”

Wincing, Theodore hesitated. “I am not certain it shall be,” he answered, slowly, “but I can endure it.” He took a breath and set his shoulders. “I must .”