After seven days, their return from Sheffield a tense quiet lay over Blackwood. The autumn weather had turned sharp the wind carrying the first bitter promise of winter from the moors In the main house. Alistair Blackwood paced the length of his father,s library. He had commandeered the room treating it as his own personal court He stopped before the great mahogany desk where his brother Edmund sat reviewing estate maps
We need to speak Alistair announced. It was not a request
Edmund looked up setting down his pen I assumed we were I am here you are here He kept his voice mild
Do not be clever with me. Edmund Alistairs tone was a low rumble. The future of this family is at stake Your daughter is of marriageable age
Edmund felt a cold knot form in his stomach. He had known this was coming She is
Now It is time to secure her future To strengthen the family line. Delaney is of an age. He is responsible now. He will inherit my portion of the estate. It is a natural fit A union that will ensure the Blackwood legacy remains consolidated undiluted-
Edmund leaned back in his chair studying his brother,s face. There was no affection there no consideration for Izzy only a cold calculation of assets and influence-
Isadora has a mind of her own he said carefully. She has- affections elsewhere-
Affections Alistair snorted a harsh dismissive sound. She is a girl. Her head is filled with romantic nonsense from novels. It is our moral duty to guide her to a practical match. This Finch boy What is he The son of a provincial solicitor. He manages a loom shed in a factory. He has no land, no name. He offers nothing.-
He offers her respect, Edmund said, his voice hardening. He offers her partnership. He looked her mind , not just her face and her prospect. He makes her happy-
Happiness Alistair said the word like a curse. Happiness is the luxury of the secure Security comes from power from land from blood tied to blood. This is not a request Edmund It is the logical necessary course
Edmund stood up. He was not as physically imposing as his brother but in that moment he seemed taller It is a request And on behalf of my daughter I must refuse it-
The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on Alistairs face darkened a flush creeping up his neck You refuse-
I do, Edmund said Isadoras heart is not a bargaining chip. The Blackwood legacy will survive without this- merger of bloodlines. She will marry Chandler Finch with my blessing-
You are not making well. Alistair hissed stepping closer. His breath was short with anger. You let sentiment cloud your duty You always have You coddle the tenants you indulge your wife you let your daughter dream above her station You weaken us all. For that weakness you will pay. You will regret this Edmund I swear it on our mothers grave-
The threat hung in the air vibrating with a malice that went beyond a simple disagreement over a marriage. It was a declaration of war-
Alistair stormed from the room slamming the door so hard the panes in the bookcases rattled. Edmund sank back into his chair his heart pounding. He was not a confrontational man but for his daughter he would face the devil himself. He only hoped the cost would not be higher than he could bear-
News of the refusal travelled through the house like a cold draft. It reached Delaney in the billiard room where he was idly practicing shots. He listened to his fathers furious recounting his expression unreadable.
So she prefers the factory rat, he said his voice quiet. He chalked his cue with meticulous care. A slight A public one-
It is an insult Alistair growled One we will not forget. She will come to see reason Or she will be made to-
Delaney lined up a shot the cue striking the white ball with a sharp crack It cannoned into the reds scattering them across the green felt He did not look at his father as he spoke Then we must make the factory rat disappear Make his world… untenable A man without prospects is not a prospect
A slow cruel smile spread across Alistairs face There you see The blood tells You have the right of it. We will start there-
Meanwhile in the Dower House Isadora knew nothing of the confrontation. She was in the morning room a sunlit space filled with Freyas plants writing a letter to Chandler. Her mother sat nearby mending a shawl watching her daughters face, which glowed with a soft inner light-
You are very happy my dove, Freya said-
Isadora looked up her eyes shining I am Mama I feel- possible Like the world is full of doors and with Chandler I have the key to all of them-
Freya smiled but it did not quite reach her eyes. She had seen Alistairs face when they returned from Sheffield. She knew the storm that was gathering She reached out and smoothed a strand of hair from her daughters brow Hold on to that feeling my dear Hold on to it tightly-
It was Yves who brought the news. He came in from the stables his face grim. He had heard it from the head groom who had heard it from a footman. He told them all of the proposal and the refusal of the threats made in the library-
Isadoras face went pale not with fear but with a fierce anger. How dare he she whispered How dare he speak of me as if I were a broodmare.
He sees the world as a possession Edmund said coming into the room his own face weary But he is wrong And we will stand together. You have our full support Izzy-
But what will he do Papa, Yves asked his practical mind already moving to defense. He is not one to take a slight lightly-
I do not know Edmund admitted But we will be watchful. We will not be bullied out of our own happiness-
That night as a gale whipped around the corners of the Manor Alistair Blackwood stood at his bedroom window a glass of whiskey in his hand He looked out at the Dower House a single warm light burning in an upstairs window likely Isadoras room-
The refusal was a crack in his authority. He had expected compliance had assumed his brothers softer nature would bend to his will It had not The crack had to be sealed immediately and permanently If Edmund would not see reason then Edmund and everything he cherished would have to be removed from the equation His brothers family was a sickness in the legacy of Blackwood and Alistair saw himself as the surgeon It must be painful but it was necessary for the health of the whole-
He drained his glass. The plan was already forming a dark ugly thing. He needed leverage. Something to break Edmunds spirit to force his compliance. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the distant light He needed a weapon And he knew just where to find one-