Page 20 of The Rake’s Absolutely Devilish Reform (The Notorious Briarwoods #4)
H ector strode into the breakfast room and was immediately tempted to turn around and head right back out.
Priscilla’s father was sitting at the table alone reading a newssheet and drinking coffee, but Hector was not a coward, and he was not about to start being one. Besides, he was going to have to speak to the man eventually.
But this was different. The last time they had spoken, it had been most challenging. He stepped into the room and cleared his throat. Lord Plumhurst lifted his eyes, and he clunked his coffee down in the saucer.
“My boy, my boy,” he said, standing up. “Do come in. This is your house. After all, I am the guest.”
Hector strode farther into the beautifully appointed room. “It is indeed my family’s house, but now you are family, sir. That is if you do indeed give your approval for my marriage to your daughter.”
“Of course I do, my boy. Of course I do,” Priscilla’s father rushed. “We would not be here if I did not. Your mother is quite a force of nature, as are you.” Her father’s face changed. “Dear boy, I hope you can forgive me.”
“There is no forgiveness required, my lord,” Hector returned quickly. “I know that you simply wanted what you believed to be best for your daughter. Please, I do not wish for any more requests for forgiveness.”
“But I must,” the older man insisted as if it weighed quite heavily on shoulders, which had already borne much over the years. “I was a fool. In a quest for greatness and a quest for security, I nearly threw it all away. I see that now, and I cannot tell you how much I admire you for all that you’ve done.”
“I don’t seek admiration, sir,” Hector said. “I think it’s imperative that you understand that. It’s most important for me that you understand that. I simply do what I do because it is the right thing to do.”
“And that,” her father cut in, “is what makes you a great man. I wish I had known. I wish I had seen it. I wish you had told me.”
“I’m sorry,” Hector said. “I can see now that my own attitudes in many ways caused these problems, but I simply never thought…”
“It’s all right,” the older man cut in. “We both could have done things differently. Perhaps you did not think I would admire bringing Shakespeare to the children in St. Giles. Many men would not see it as important or substantive. Playing dress up with children and all that. And I admire that you never thought to brag. It never occurred to me I could ruin my own family’s life with the wrong choice in Priscilla’s husband. I thought you were the wrong choice. But you? You are the one in every way. I would like very much to support your endeavors with Shakespeare, and with art. I think what you are doing is magnificent, but I think it could be much bigger.”
Hector cocked his head to the side. “Shall we sit?” Hector asked.
“Indeed, indeed,” Lord Plumhurst said.
And they both sat down at the table. Hector poured himself out a cup of coffee. “I’m listening. Please tell me what you have mind.”
“I have not been able to get it from my thoughts since I saw you in St Giles,” the older man professed passionately. “I realized the power that you have to change lives. To offer hope. I want to take this to all cities, especially the working-class cities in the north,” he said. “Of course, we must continue to do the good work here in London. But if you will let me help you, I think that we should start a great organization, hire teachers, send people out to the cities, do Shakespeare in the streets, bring in children and show them the hope and possibility that there is through the love of such learning and words. Don’t you think that that would be an ideal thing?”
Hector nearly reeled. The words crashed over him. Was his mind deceiving him? Was her father suggesting they become partners? Was he so impressed?
From the hopeful look on Lord Plumhurst’s face, Hector realized that, yes, the old man was impressed and dearly wished to be a part of his endeavors.
“I never thought to take it so large,” Hector admitted. “My brother is the one who always does the great things for this country.”
“Well, your brother is a duke, and I suppose it must be difficult sometimes to be in his shadow,” Lord Plumhurst said.
Hector shook his head, thinking of all the years he had supported Leander. “Never. It is not difficult to be in his shadow because he has his own. We both shine for each other at the right moment, and I simply never thought as a second son to—”
“To claim your destiny?” Lord Plumhurst ventured, leaning forward full of pride. “You know, sometimes, my boy, you must dream bigger. You must see beyond your limitations. I certainly had to. If I had not, I would still be living in a small, horrid stone house working the mills. Now, I run those mills and make certain that they’re safe for the workers. I ensure that the conditions are decent, that they have good food and then, of course, work better. I make certain that their children have a chance to do something else. While so many of the other mill owners want to work their people into the ground and keep those children without hope so they have nowhere else to go. How could I do to others’ children what was done to mine? No, you are the greater inspiration. Let us take care of the children,” Lord Plumhurst said, his voice rough with emotion. “Let us offer them something that they cannot get anywhere else.”
Hector held out his hand. “By God, let us make a deal on it then.”
“Indeed,” Lord Plumhurst said. “Let us make a deal. A deal for the future, a deal for hope, and a blow to all those who would tear people down and who would make them small again.”
In that moment, Hector knew that his future father-in-law was speaking of Lord Fitzhubert.
And Hector understood that Lord Plumhurst knew now that Lord Fitzhubert would have torn his family down, brought them back to the littleness of the past, despite their fortune.
And Hector was grateful. So very grateful that, instead, this man was not only lifting himself up but his family and England too.