Chapter 7: Persuading Charlton III
Although it was true that Charlton has grown spiteful of Serena over time, it would be unfair to say that his allegation was completely groundless. Before Serena came in the picture, his relationship with his cousin, Geoffrey, has always been a good one.
Perhaps one could say that Charlton was just being a hateful scorned lover, but for him, even if indirectly, Serena was the root cause. Even with the assumption that Geoffrey did not know about their affair, his defiance, him rejecting his olive branch, all his choices, everything he did, all of it were executed just so that he can rightfully marry her.
Whether Geoffrey knew or not, he does feel guilty for what he did as he admits that he has wronged him for pursuing a relationship with Serena knowing that she was his betrothed. If his involvement on what happened to his father only ended with that document, then he could let bygones be bygones. But the same would never be true for Serena.
Serena ruined his life. Even if she did it unknowingly, it doesn't change the fact that she was the root of all his sufferings. If not for her, he wouldn't have gone against Geoffrey, his father wouldn't have been imprisoned, his father's murderers wouldn't have gotten the chance, his mother won't be half insane, and he, he wouldn't have to live in a personal hell that seems to have been tailored fit for him. And you know what he abhors the most? While all these were happening to him, she continued to flaunt her perfect life, and with Geoffrey nonetheless, as if, as if she has always been completely and utterly innocent.
He despised her so much that he knew he needed to do something about it. He wanted her to suffer the same pains he's going through. He wanted to ruin her life like how she ruined his.
If there's anyone he hated more than those who were behind his father's death, it was her.
Charlton clenched his fist instinctively. Just a few more days and…
"Ouch! Ouch!" Hugo exclaimed as Charlton gripped his wrist.
Charlton quickly let go, "sorry, but what were you doing?"
Christopher shook his head, answering for Hugo, "Hugo was just trying to catch your attention. I have advised him against his method, but he wouldn't listen. Anyway, we've been calling you, but you seem to be in a trance. Are you alright?"
"Oh, I see. Yes, I'm alright, just thinking about something. Sorry again, Hugo. It didn't hurt, did it?" Charlton asked, quite unsure of how much force he put on that grip. But to be fair, he was surprised when Hugo suddenly threw his hand in front of his face. Anyhow, that's why he tries not to think of Serena with other people around. It has the tendency to consume him.
Hugo mocked cry, "How could you do this to me, Charlton? Why does it have to come to this? I know I'm better looking and all the above but… huhuhu…"
"What?" Charlton asked in confusion. What was Hugo talking about?
Christopher sighed in exasperation. "Don't mind him, Charlton. Hey Hugo, you better listen. If you don't want another stunt to Norfolk, you better quit whatever you've been smoking."
Hugo stopped mock crying and started laughing. "That's a good one, maybe I can use that phrase next time." Well, though he didn't like Christopher at times, he had to admit that some of his phrases were funny.
"Good luck on using it on the correct context then." Christopher dryly replied.
Hugo furrowed his brows. What did Christopher mean by that?
Charlton shook his head while smiling. Trying to sway their conversation to where they left of, he asked, "So, Christopher, how has your sister been?"
"Still pining away for you I bet." Hugo, still annoyed with Christopher, tactlessly commented, which earned him a glare from Charlton this time.
Christopher ignored Hugo's jab. In his opinion, although Charlton already turned down his family's betrothal offer thrice, so long as he still wasn't married, it's still fair play. Besides, it's the politically advantageous match that their family was after. That his sister has feelings for Charlton was just a lucky coincidence.
Now, what they don't understand was how Charlton sees the possible union. Initially, they thought that the reason he turned down the betrothal offer was because every time they mentioned it, the timing was always off.
The first time, Charlton said that he was still young, and marriage was not something he thought of yet. They understood because that was true. He was only 22 then, and aside from that, they believe that he was still a monarchist tiptoeing on which match the king would allow.
The second time, Charlton was already exiled in Norfolk and his father branded a criminal. So, they thought he must already have some dissatisfaction with their monarch. Since he took time to consider, they thought that he should be weighing the advantages of the match. However, unexpectedly, he turned it down. This time, he cited the fact that his future was still uncertain. Again, they took his words for face value because it was true. Also, the gravity of dissatisfaction for his uncle then might not be that much.
The third time was the one they sent a few months back. It's been a year since Charlton's father died in injustice, he was already turning 26 (average age of men in the Victorian era to get married) that year, and there's just no more valid excuse they could think of. However, he still turned down the offer with the excuse that he wasn't ready for a relationship given his current position, and he hopes that Annalys would get herself a match this year.
If their family still didn't understand what he meant when it was clear as day, then that would just be pure stubbornness. Charlton doesn't seem to be interested in a betrothal with Annalys.
Thus, that got them thinking, why was that the case and was there a way for it to be rectified?
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TBC