Read Online A Lady of High Regard by Tracie Peterson - Free Book Online
Authors: Tracie Peterson
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Garrett,” she whispered. “I thought you were different. I thought you would realize the importance of this, even if no one else did.”
Garrett felt a deep sense of emptiness after Mia left. He stood for several minutes looking at the gate through which she’d passed into the garden. No doubt she was safely in the house by now. He should simply put the matter behind him and return to his own home.
But I can’t just put this behind me—because she won’t. He blew out a heavy breath and walked very slowly to the back door of his house. Knowing what she was involving herself in only served to make Garrett more uncomfortable. Mia would see this as a grand cause but would never recognize the danger in which she had placed herself. Those men who were seeking to have their monies repaid would not care that Mia was a lady of high regard. Of course, society as a whole would rise up in protest should something happen to one of the elite, but even then it would only be a nominal effort at best. No, if something happened to cause Mia harm, people would openly detest the matter and speak against it while muttering under their breath that perhaps she’d gotten what she deserved. After all, what woman of means would put herself in such a dangerous position to begin with? What properly brought-up young lady would even dare to dabble in such unacceptable situations?
Garrett entered the kitchen and was surprised to find his father there. A single candle had been lit and placed on the table. The glow afforded Garrett the chance to see that his father was eating milk-soaked bread.
“You gave me a start,” his father said. “What in the world were you doing outside at this hour?”
Garrett sat opposite him at the table. “I went for a walk.” At least that wasn’t a lie. There was no chance he could tell his father what had really happened.
“Did it rain?”
“Yes, but only lightly and not for long.”
“I thought to come down and see if I couldn’t settle my stomach with some milk and bread.”
“Has it troubled you for long?”
His father shrugged. “I’ve not wished to worry anyone, but of late I’ve had a bad case of sour stomach.”
Garrett frowned. “It’s more of a worry to know you’re ailing and not receiving proper care. When did it start?”
His father put down his spoon. “Before Christmas. It’s gradually grown worse. I meant to say something to you, but as I said, I did not wish to cause you concern.”
“You should let a doctor consider the matter. This could be serious.”
His father waved him off. “A doctor considered your mother’s condition and it did little good.”
“Mother was stubborn like you and told no one she was ill until it was too late. You might yet have a chance to treat whatever the malady. Perhaps it’s nothing more serious than eating rich food. But you’ll never know unless you seek the doctor’s opinion.”
Garrett looked at his father and realized for the first time how very thin he appeared. He’d lost a good amount of weight in the last months. Even Mercy had commented the other morning at breakfast how pale he’d been. Garrett hadn’t really thought about it then. His father had attributed his coloring to poor lighting, but Garrett knew the light had been just fine.
“Are you in pain?”
His father said nothing for several minutes. Garrett thought perhaps he’d refuse to discuss the issue further, but finally he spoke.
“Yes. Sometimes the pain is quite intense.” He looked up to meet Garrett’s expression. “I do not want your stepmother to know.”
“Don’t you think that a bit cruel? If something serious is happening to you, she would want to be prepared.”
“She cannot prepare for her future. We must do that. You know this house and everything in it belongs to you. The business is already a partnership, with my share going to you upon my death. Of course there is a yearly stipend to be given to my wife and daughters. But it would
Garrett felt a deep sense of emptiness after Mia left. He stood for several minutes looking at the gate through which she’d passed into the garden. No doubt she was safely in the house by now. He should simply put the matter behind him and return to his own home.
But I can’t just put this behind me—because she won’t. He blew out a heavy breath and walked very slowly to the back door of his house. Knowing what she was involving herself in only served to make Garrett more uncomfortable. Mia would see this as a grand cause but would never recognize the danger in which she had placed herself. Those men who were seeking to have their monies repaid would not care that Mia was a lady of high regard. Of course, society as a whole would rise up in protest should something happen to one of the elite, but even then it would only be a nominal effort at best. No, if something happened to cause Mia harm, people would openly detest the matter and speak against it while muttering under their breath that perhaps she’d gotten what she deserved. After all, what woman of means would put herself in such a dangerous position to begin with? What properly brought-up young lady would even dare to dabble in such unacceptable situations?
Garrett entered the kitchen and was surprised to find his father there. A single candle had been lit and placed on the table. The glow afforded Garrett the chance to see that his father was eating milk-soaked bread.
“You gave me a start,” his father said. “What in the world were you doing outside at this hour?”
Garrett sat opposite him at the table. “I went for a walk.” At least that wasn’t a lie. There was no chance he could tell his father what had really happened.
“Did it rain?”
“Yes, but only lightly and not for long.”
“I thought to come down and see if I couldn’t settle my stomach with some milk and bread.”
“Has it troubled you for long?”
His father shrugged. “I’ve not wished to worry anyone, but of late I’ve had a bad case of sour stomach.”
Garrett frowned. “It’s more of a worry to know you’re ailing and not receiving proper care. When did it start?”
His father put down his spoon. “Before Christmas. It’s gradually grown worse. I meant to say something to you, but as I said, I did not wish to cause you concern.”
“You should let a doctor consider the matter. This could be serious.”
His father waved him off. “A doctor considered your mother’s condition and it did little good.”
“Mother was stubborn like you and told no one she was ill until it was too late. You might yet have a chance to treat whatever the malady. Perhaps it’s nothing more serious than eating rich food. But you’ll never know unless you seek the doctor’s opinion.”
Garrett looked at his father and realized for the first time how very thin he appeared. He’d lost a good amount of weight in the last months. Even Mercy had commented the other morning at breakfast how pale he’d been. Garrett hadn’t really thought about it then. His father had attributed his coloring to poor lighting, but Garrett knew the light had been just fine.
“Are you in pain?”
His father said nothing for several minutes. Garrett thought perhaps he’d refuse to discuss the issue further, but finally he spoke.
“Yes. Sometimes the pain is quite intense.” He looked up to meet Garrett’s expression. “I do not want your stepmother to know.”
“Don’t you think that a bit cruel? If something serious is happening to you, she would want to be prepared.”
“She cannot prepare for her future. We must do that. You know this house and everything in it belongs to you. The business is already a partnership, with my share going to you upon my death. Of course there is a yearly stipend to be given to my wife and daughters. But it would
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