Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

—Matthew 23:25, ESV

" I 'm going with you, Veronica," Edward announced. An overpowering fear seized him at the thought of parting from her so suddenly. Much had conspired against them, and he dare not let her out of his sight.

"But we return to New York next week, and I need you at the office," Father said before Veronica could respond.

"Whatever you and your father decide." Veronica neared the entrance to the hall but turned to look at Edward. "I haven't much time to spare if I'm going to catch one of the next trains. I'll find Frances and we'll begin packing. I assume you will have someone pack your trunks shortly if you plan to accompany us to Velvet Brooks."

She dashed away to her guest room, leaving him to work things out with his family.

"I'll go and help my niece pack," her Aunt Mae said, excusing herself too.

As soon as Veronica's aunt's footsteps faded, Edward's mother's petulant voice rang out. "I knew she would run away to Kentucky, Edward."

Edward didn't like his mother's words or her tone. Did she imply he should give up on the love of his life? He had come to a number of conclusions during his walks on the beach with Veronica and in his prayer time. Getting away from New York had helped him sort through things. The time had come to stand up to his family.

"Come sit beside me, Edward." Aunt Lavinia patted the empty seat where Veronica's aunt sat moments ago. "It's been a lovely couple of weeks getting to know your beautiful fiancée and her aunt. I think you should follow your heart to Kentucky. Miss Veronica loves you and makes you happy."

Truer words had never been spoken. But he couldn't sit at a time like this.

"She has likely changed her mind about marrying our Edward," Sophie said before he could utter a reply to his aunt. "It seems to me she has seized upon a weak excuse to cut our visit short—and it's such a vital time to get acquainted."

"It's probably for the best, Auntie," Henrietta put in, but when Edward turned toward her with fire in his eyes, she snapped her mouth shut.

He'd had to face the hard truth, the realizations he'd come to while gazing out at the ocean and praying for wisdom. He loved his family. He always would. But his family had not always shown him the same kind of love he held in his heart toward them. He had longed to come home from the military academy, but beyond the holidays, his parents hadn't made it possible. At least he had been able to choose his own major at Princeton.

He had been working hard to please them, to do the right thing by them, to do the responsible thing since his graduation. To bail them out of the mess his father had put them in. In return, all they had ever shown him was that if he didn't please them, they would cast him out. It was time to listen to God's plan for his future with Veronica and follow the passions laid upon his heart. His two callings, to be a husband to Veronica and an artist for the Lord.

Filling the world with paintings of the beautiful things God had created and building his life with the woman God had led him to fall in love with meant more to him than all the riches in the world. His father might not understand, but his Heavenly Father's call rang louder than all of the other voices he heard. And Veronica had helped him realize it with her appreciation of his artwork and her desire to live at Velvet Brooks. There, he, too, could pursue his passions.

"Do you really think it's for the best to let her go, Henrietta?" His voice sounded calm, stern, and clear. A peace and determination rose inside him. He felt the Lord's hand, helping him say what he should have long ago.

Henrietta swiveled to face him. "Yes, Edward, I do. She isn't right for you, and you know very well why. Mother has said so many times. She comes from horseracing and gambling money. And none of our suitors will call on us because of it."

"And you, Sophie, do you think it's best to let her go?" He turned to his other sister.

Sophie bit her lip, obviously sensing something different in him. "Y-yes, I do. You know how Mother feels about gambling. And it's true—our suitors have disappeared ever since she arrived." The determination on her face wavered, and her lips quivered.

He clasped his hands behind his back. "It's a pity the two of you feel the way you do. You see, Father didn't want to worry either of you, or Mother, but it's time you know."

His father opened his mouth to protest, but Edward held up a hand. Father closed his mouth like the lions roaring before Daniel when the angel silenced them. Maybe he wearied of keeping his problems from the women in the family.

"It's not Veronica causing you to lose your suitors, my dear sisters. It is the rumors about what has happened to your father's finances." As they stared at him with round eyes, Edward told them about the short sale with the Elkins stock. It was fortuitous that Rupert was there to hear everything too. "The worst of it is not just that Father's savings is gone, but he also had to use your dowries."

"Our dowries!" Henrietta gasped and Sophie clutched her throat.

Mother listened with her mouth gaping.

"And then he had to take out an enormous loan and sell off two of our tenement properties, which still won't pay back all of the loan. He concocted a plan, suggesting I marry Veronica to save your dowries and replenish some of the family coffers. In short, Veronica's dowry would have helped you a great deal, Henrietta, and you, too, Sophie."

"Oh dear, what have we done?" Henrietta groaned.

"We've treated her so terribly." Sophie raised her hand to her mouth.

"What exactly have you girls been up to?" Father leaned forward, his nostrils flaring like one of the horses in the stables at Velvet Brooks.

"I'll let them tell you since I must pack and leave." Now he knew the reason Sophie and Henrietta had whispered lies to Veronica about his involvement with Mirabel, especially since they had admitted to believing their suitors would not come around because of his fiancée's background. "Suffice it to say, in the meantime, I've fallen head over heels in love with Veronica, but it seems some of you don't care for her. And you think she and her money are tainted, though it would have replenished your dowries and secured you happy futures." He looked directly at his sisters, an attempt to convey his anger and disappointment.

"No, no, Edward. We are sorry. Please forgive us," Henrietta pleaded, Sophie echoing the sentiment.

"You really should forgive them, Edward. They didn't know," his mother said in a low voice. "I didn't know the extent of things either. Levi, you should have told us."

Father heaved a sigh, muttering something indistinguishable under his breath, lowering his head in shame.

"I do forgive them, Mother. And now you know everything, but it's too late. The damage has been done. Your dowries are gone, and only after you realize how much Veronica becoming part of the family could have helped you do you say you are sorry. Equally appalling, Father expects me to just hand half of her dowry over to him while I give up my passion for art and slave away in an industry I don't even like." Edward shook his head. "No, it's not going to work out that way. I am done with sacrificing my passion for all of you."

Mother's back stiffened. "But it's your duty, Edward."

"Yes, it is your duty to the family." Father's face reddened. "Your responsibility to carry on the family trade, our good name, everything I've worked so hard for."

"No, Father, I have a better plan." Edward turned toward him. "I'm going to marry Veronica at her home church if she'll still have me after all my family has put her through, live in Kentucky, and pursue my dream of becoming an artist. We'll use the dowry to become established somewhere near Velvet Brooks until my artwork begins selling. As for your situation, after a thorough search of our financial records, I've found a solution. I suggest you sell a parcel of our beachfront property here in South Carolina. There is plenty of land, and we're only here a few weeks in the summer and winter. Use those funds to pay off the rest of the loan. It should leave enough to replace Henrietta's and Sophie's dowries, albeit with small ones."

His mother's mouth dropped open. "But that land has been in my family for generations…"

Edward sighed. "It's the only way, Mother. Even with the sale of two of our tenements. You'll still have your summer home and the land around it. It is a very small price to pay to restore your finances and give my sisters a chance for futures of their own. In the meantime, you can promote Jack to a senior partner. And with his passion for our industry, he will help the business improve."

"Jack Curzon?" his father echoed, clearly aghast. "But I intended to make you and Rupert senior partners when I retired."

Edward waved his plan aside. "Jack loves working at Beckett Reed. Make it Beckett, Reed, Johnston & Curzon. He's brought three new clients in while you were gone. He'll make a fine senior partner. I don't want to be a partner, and although I can't speak for Rupert, my guess is he'd prefer to pursue his field of study someday too. Regardless, I'm moving to Kentucky."

Henrietta and Sophie burst into tears.

His mother rose and faced his father. "How could you have let this happen to us, Levi? It pains me to say it, but you must listen to Edward. I don't see any other way forward." She turned to comfort his sisters, who sobbed quietly.

Edward had rendered his father speechless. In time, he would come to accept the plan Edward had offered.

Rupert stood and thumped Edward on the back. "Good for you, brother. You are finally free." When Rupert finished school, he could be free from Beckett Reed also. "I'd still like to be your best man. And I hope you and Veronica have a wonderful life in Kentucky. I'd like nothing more than to see you happy."

"Thank you, Rupert. Your turn to stand strong is coming." Edward patted his brother on the shoulder. If he wanted to marry Mirabel and pursue his dreams, he needed to complete his education and stand up for himself too. Edward had passed along Mirabel's note shortly after their arrival.

Rupert mouthed a silent thank you . Edward's actions had paved an easier way forward for his brother's happiness too.

"Will you please send us an invitation to the wedding, Edward?" Aunt Lavinia's gentle query turned Edward back at the door. "I can't blame you one bit for the decisions you've come to, but I for one intend to support you by coming to the wedding, if Veronica's family won't mind after the way our family has treated her."

"Of course, Aunt Lavinia. You'll all be invited. Unlike the rest of my family, the Lyndons are horseracing royalty, and they behave like royalty too. I'm sure they'll send invitations. Perhaps by the time of our wedding, you will all remember to treat Veronica with respect. You must never forget that she and her family are highly esteemed where they come from." With this, Edward headed upstairs to pack.

Right now, what mattered most was being at Veronica's side, if she'd still have him. He could hardly believe she hadn't abandoned him entirely.

August, 1901

Velvet Brooks

V eronica sat at the dining room table across the hall from Father's library, quietly tapping her foot. She'd wanted to be in the meeting between Pa and Edward. Her fiancé's plan had filled her with surprise and happiness when he shared it with her on the journey home.

She didn't know a woman could have this much happiness in her heart. This had turned out far better than she'd expected, and Edward was finally free to pursue his artwork. And she wouldn't have to leave Velvet Brooks if things worked out the way she and Edward hoped. She would find out when his meeting with her pa finally concluded. What took them so long?

After hearing about the way Edward had stood up to his family, she trusted him to sort things out. If all went according to plan, she would marry Edward on the last Saturday in September.

The library door swung open, and she caught a glimpse of Pa shaking Edward's hand, smiles on their faces. Then Edward hurried across the hall toward her, and Pa went out the front door to handle some other matter.

When Edward reached her side, she stood, and he pulled her into his arms. Looking up into his blue eyes, which were sparkling with excitement, she asked, "Well? How did it go?"

He picked her up and spun her around. "It was perfect. Splendid. Everything we hoped for."

When he set her down again, she giggled. "I want every detail. Ten acres?"

He nodded. "Ten acres with one edge along Cornflower Road, and we can begin construction of our new home as soon as we like."

Her hand fluttered to her chest. "He'll sell it to us?"

"He already planned to give it to us as a wedding gift. With a deed in both of our names." He smiled.

"And what did he think of your idea for the name Glorious Day Dreamer for the new foal?" The birth of Glory's foal had lifted everyone's spirits—especially Gladdie, who loved Edward's name suggestion. The foal made her think of the fresh new beginning ahead for them.

"Loved it. But I'd like to know, do you want the house to sit back far from the road with a long lane leading to it? With sugar maples planted along both sides?"

She pursed her lips and stepped away from him, placing her hands behind her back. "I don't know. I'm not sure if I like any of this plan."

"Wh-why not?" Edward looked puzzled, almost crestfallen.

"I don't know, city boy." Veronica placed her hands on her hips, her gaze hidden beneath her lashes, her voice coy. "Does the house you have in mind include matching easels, a piano, far too many books, a bunch of messy, noisy children who look just like you, a stable of our own, Jesus at the center of our world, and a rose garden to admire after church every Sunday?"

A grin a mile wide spread across his face. He reached out, catching her by the hand and pulling her into his arms for a sweet kiss. "Yes, yes, to everything on your list, my darling, but you are the only rose I'll ever need in our garden."