Deep in thought Marcus started his walk back home. And there was a lot to think about indeed. On top of the list of course running into the stable boy Will again. He would have never expected that to happen, but he had hoped that they would meet again. It was hard to wrap his head around how fate was playing sometimes. And it was quite impressive how they got along so well.
Surely there had been some formalities that they had to overcome. Especially this night as they introduced themselves. Marcus had noticed very easily that Will hadn't been too comfortable at first when he found out Marcus' status. But that had to be expected. After all he was just a stable boy. And talking to the son of a Grand Duke this informally had to be somewhat scary and unusual. Marcus was glad that he managed to make him feel more comfortable after a little while. Although he sidestepped the topic of giving him his name for quite a bit.
Marcus couldn't help but wonder why. Was it just because of their difference in status? But what harm would it do if he knew his name? Maybe he had been worried that he just played nice to find out his name so he could then talk bad about him to his master? But Will didn't strike Marcus as someone who would have been afraid of their master. He seemed quite confident and ready to defend himself if necessary. Surely his sassy ways had gotten him in trouble before.
But that explanation didn't quite satisfy Marcus. He felt like there was something else to that stable boy. Will didn't seem too comfortable telling Marcus his name at all, even when he finally gave in and did, he practically spat the word out, trying to get it over with as fast as possible it seemed.
Will surely was one special character. He striked Marcus as an honest, bubbly person, who loved nothing more than his freedom. His challenging and somewhat cheeky statements that every once in a while slip out were not only amusing but also amazing Marcus. He wondered if he was talking to his master like that too. Was the Duke of Cornwall someone to accept his servants talking to him like that?
Talking about the Duke. Marcus had talked to his father about the arranged marriage once again, mainly to find out more about the deal and the girl that he was betrothed to. And the most interesting coincidence had occurred. The girl that was promised to him was actually the Duke of Cornwall's sister, Antonia. So if Marcus were to accept that marriage he would actually be Will's new master as he would take over the Cornwall Estate.
But should he really allow his father to make a decision that big for him? Will surely had had a clear opinion on the matter. He would rather run off than be pushed into an arranged marriage.
For Marcus that decision wasn't so easy though. This wasn't just about him. There were other people that his decision would affect. Because there was more to the deal than just the arranged marriage as Marcus had previously thought.
His father had helped Philip, the Duke of Cornwall, with the financial problems that they had been facing after their father passed away and in return he wanted their estate. And he wanted his son to be in charge of that estate. And in order to achieve that, the marriage with the Duke's sister would be necessary.
Marcus couldn't understand why his father hadn't just paid for their debts without asking anything in return if he really only made the deal to help them as he claimed. And he couldn't understand how any brother could accept that deal. But then again his father could be quite convincing and Philip wasn't much older than Marcus was himself if he remembered correctly. He wouldn't have been able to take over a whole estate 2 years ago. Back then he had anything on his mind, but not paying debts and taking care of a whole estate.
So his father was probably more to blame than Philip was. That would be just like him to use a situation like that to his advantage. And of course he couldn't care less about the people who's future he was playing with, which left Marcus in this mess. How was he supposed to make a decision?
If he were to refuse, his father might just make Philip pay back all the debts that he had paid for all those years ago. And Marcus wasn't too sure if the Duke of Cornwall would be able to do that. Also this would lead into the worst fight with his father that he could possibly imagine. His father would probably never talk to him again and it would rip the whole family apart.
How was Marcus supposed to choose? What was the right decision to make? Declining the offer could cause a lot of trouble, but he felt like giving in to his father would ruin his life. How could he let himself get trapped in a marriage like that? But wouldn't it be oh so selfish if he decided against it?
Marcus stopped for a second, sighing heavily, looking up at the sky. He didn't want to make that decision. Not at all.
He wondered what Antonia was thinking about all of this. Did she mind getting married to a stranger? He wished he knew what she knew about him and this marriage. Because Marcus barely knew a thing or two about her. She was said to be quite beautiful. Long brown hair, hazel eyes and a petite figure just like her mother. His father couldn't tell him anything about her character though. He just mentioned that her mother had loved to paint. But it was questionable if Antonia was into that as well for she had never even known her mother.
Did Antonia know what he looked like? Had she seen a photograph of him? Or maybe even one of the family portraits that his mother would have made every year? Surely she knew that he had been off travelling the world.
Marcus wondered if that was something that she would find appealing or not. Would she ask him about his travels? Or would she not be interested in any of the stories? He thought about what she could be interested in. Dresses? Jewelry? Balls? Gossip? All of those things possibly? Would they have anything in common at all?
He knew that to Antonia he was quite a good match. He was the son of a Grand Duke and there was a very slim but existing chance that he would be a Grand Duke one day too and take over the Yorkshire estate.
On the other hand Antonia was only a good match in his father's eyes as she got them the Cornwall Estate. Ugh, this was ridiculous. Marriage shouldn't be used to ensure titles and land. One should get married to the love of their life. No matter the title or the lands. Marcus wouldn't mind marrying a simple maid if she were to be the love of his life. But things like that had never mattered to his father. His brothers had been lucky enough to fall in love with girls that in his father's eyes were a well enough match. But Marcus hadn't given much thought to that matter until now and therefore his father had decided to take matters in his own hands.
Marcus never wanted to force things. He was convinced that if it was supposed to happen it would either way. And if she happened to be a farmgirl he couldn't care less. All that would matter was that he loved her and she loved him. But now he felt like his father had ruined that chance for him. And he didn't know if he could just accept that. Was he really ready to let go of the thought of true love and get married to a stranger, that quite possibly had nothing in common with him?
But what if they did? What if she happened to be bubbly and longing for freedom just as much as he was. What if she wasn't interested in dresses and the newest gossip but instead liked to go out riding or going on her own little adventures? What if- Marcus interrupted his thoughts there. Not sure if he wanted to finish that one. But he couldn't stop his mind from completing the questions for more than a second. What if she was like Will? Not a stable boy of course, but character wise.
Those qualities that he admired in his newly found friend would also suit the idea of his "perfect" future wife quite well. He felt like he could fall in love with her if her character was somewhat like that.
Ugh, this was so frustrating. How was he supposed to make the most important decision about his own future when there were so many unknown factors in this equation? He didn't even know if Antonia would want that marriage. If she was even just the slightest bit like Will, she would probably hate the idea as well. But unlike him she was hardly able to make a choice in that matter. The only option she really had was to refuse and run away. But that would mean losing all comforts that she currently had. She would have to work hard and earn her own money.
Marcus felt bad just at the thought of that. It was never right to force someone into something that they didn't want. Especially not into marriages. He felt like he wasn't just making this decision for himself anymore. He was making it for himself and for Antonia. And even though he didn't like to make decisions over other people's heads he made a decision in that moment.
He would decline. He would not bow to his father's wish. If things were to go badly he could still offer his help to Philip. They weren't specifically good friends but they had seen each other a few times before he went to travel the world. Surely they would be able to figure something out. He just had to meet up with him.
Why didn't he think of this earlier? If he didn't feel like he had all the information he needed to make a decision he could just meet up with Philip and get some answers. Maybe he would even get to see Antonia. He would send word to the Cornwall Estate that he would come for a visit the next afternoon.
His mind now made up, Marcus quickened his pace. Feeling like he couldn't waste another second. He would write the short letter announcing himself before he went to sleep and would place it in the hallway with a note so it would get delivered first thing in the morning. After all he didn't want to just show up at the Cornwall Estate without giving Philip at least a little time to prepare. It wasn't proper to show up at someone's house like that. Not even in a situation like this.
A couple minutes later Marcus had finally arrived back home. He made sure to be as quiet as possible as he went upstairs to his room. After softly closing the door behind him, he lit the lamp on his desk and searched his drawers for a piece of paper. He really should sort through all this stuff, he thought to himself, getting impatient as he didn't find a piece of paper right away.
Finally he had found what he had been looking for and grabbed ahold of the pen that had already been on top of his desk.
To
The Duke of Cornwall
Dear Philip!
Marcus paused for a moment, wondering if this was too informal. Not really in the mood to look for another piece of paper and start all over again he decided to just go for it and leave it as it was.
As you might have heard I have returned from my travels a few days prior. My father has mentioned to me a certain deal that he apparently made with you, shortly after my departure.
I would very much like to discuss this very deal with you and hope that you will welcome me at your Estate tomorrow at noon.
I am looking forward to seeing you.
Marcus
It might not have turned out as proper as Marcus would have normally wanted it to, but he was tired and all this letter was supposed to do, was inform Philip of his visit so it should be fine. As they were nearly the same age Marcus didn't feel like there needed to be any formalities such as calling each other Duke of whatnot and all that. He had never cared about his title too much anyways.
Folding the letter up, Marcus couldn't be bothered to light a candle and properly seal it, but instead just left it folded in half once. He also scribbled down a short note for whoever one of the servants was to find it first. Making sure that it was clear that the letter was to be delivered to the Cornwall Estate the first thing in the morning, he tiptoed back downstairs and placed the letter and the note on the small decorative table in the foyer.
Not much more than a few moments later he was back in his room. Stripping himself from his clothes he fell back into his bed. This night had been exhausting and he didn't even want to know what time it was, but it had helped him immensely in figuring out what his next steps were supposed to be. And he felt as though at least some of it was thanks to Will. If they hadn't talked about the topic, he would have probably continued to just push it back in his head and refused to face it.
He wasn't normally one to procrastinate, but he didn't think like there was a solution to his problem and now he felt so much closer to a solution. Right now he highly tended towards backing out of the marriage but he would have an open mind as to what Philip would have to say tomorrow. Marcus felt like it was important to hear both sides in that matter. He knew that his father would say pretty much whatever was necessary to convince him that this arranged marriage was a good thing. But he also wanted to hear Philip's version of the whole story.
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