The Viscount is surprised when he hears that with his eyes widens.
"How did you know he is going to die. And if he does, how is that my business." He says with his eyes roaming around the room, he is nervous.
She stares at her father in disbelief and doubts.
Is her father really like this, or he has always been like this?
"What alliance are you forming?" She asks scrutinizing his face to check if he is going to lie.
The Viscount sighs and walks to her.
"I know it was you, yesterday. You heard us." Her father states and sits on her bed, while she says nothing, not denying what he says. She knows she has to let this out or else she is not going to rest. "You are becoming wise, more than ever, I'm grateful for that." He says.
"Of course, as the future Viscount, I should be wise." She says nonchalantly, and her father looks shocked by her statement and sighs. "What is it you want to say, I shall listen." She says to her father, sitting beside him.
"I don't want to reveal this to you, you shall find out yourself and prove to me that you are capable of becoming the next Viscount. But what I want you to know is that I shall always be your father no matter what. And you shall always be my daughter, no matter what." Her father says swallowing hard. "So about the Baron, how did you know?" He asks. She dismisses the suspicions she has about her father and smiles.
"It's just a dream. But father, I want you to be aware that you can make it without any duke's intervention. We are going to elevate from this lower Viscount to a Viscount that everyone bows for." She assures her father with a smile, adjusting her coat. The Viscount looks at her with a smiles. She has determined for them to become the rich people that everyone must heard of.
"How are you going to do that?" Asks the Viscount with a proud smile on his face.
"Don't worry father." She says. Her father nods and stands up, eventually believing her.
"I am not going to that. I mean Baron's offer. I rejected the offer last night, but the Baron said he is going to form alliance with him. I shall fight my battle myself without the intervention of anyone that will want to use me as a stepping stone or a ladder." He says and she is surprised by what he says and blames herself for not trusting him. The Viscount takes a steps but stops and turns to his daughter. "You are surrounded by enemies. No one wants it to be better for you, they only want to see your fall. Don't be carried away by pleasures, and take ease, you shall definitely overcome your burden I loaded on you." He says sullenly and she knows what he's talking about.
She remembers before her father go for the last trip, she fights him and tells him that she is tired of being a boy and she wants to be a better lady so the young masters of England can start sending letters and flowers to her. Her father has felt bad and guilty for stealing that away from her. But now she is not reminding her father about it, her father is kinda shocked but happy and advises her not to trust people.
"Worry not, father. I shall become a better Viscount." She says with a smile.
Her father walks out of the room and he follows her. They both gets to the dining room together and sits on the table.
"Good morning my Lord." The Viscountess who is already there says and the Viscount nods. Beatrice follows suit and greets him too, he also nods with a smile. He loves the Viscountess's children even if he didn't father Beatrice.
He rubs the head of his 'only' son, James, who smiles at him politely.
"I heard that the business collapses father, what shall happen now?" Beatrice says.
Marianne is shocked with that statement. She remembers they have this kind of discussion in her past life and it is Beatrice who brings the topic. Her father praises her that she is brilliant and she remembers to be jealous at that time.
So it's because of this reason her father wants to form an alliance with the mysterious duke, but her father doesn't do that in her past life. Instead it collapses and it is Beatrice who brings the idea of another business to do. She remembers that she mention making cement for building and her father obeys her when there is no other suggestions, but the business eventually crash, before she die, because the business is made for only Southwark before, it is bound to perish.
The thing is about to happen again, what happens in her past life, that drifts her father away from her and that makes his father almost lost her life, just that she is definitely not going to let it happen in this life.
"Yes. That's why I want to ask you a question. What type of business should I do?" He asks.
The Viscountess is happy that the Viscount faces only her daughter.
Beatrice smiles and says, "Thanks for considering me father. There are many builders that need sand for building, but because it's too far, people builds only few times in a year and that's why we lack building in Southwark." She says and the duke smiles.
"Wow! That's brilliant. You are too intelligent, Beatrice. I'm proud of you, my daughter." The Viscount says and Beatrice face lights up and Viscountess can't help but sips her tea with pride. "Who has any other suggestions?" He asks and when he sees that no one answers and has agreed with Beatrice, he smiles. "So does that mean you all agreed with Beatrice?" He asks and Viscountess and her son nods.
"I do not agree." Marianne says.
They all are surprised to see that she says that. Beatrice sneers and wonders if she has something else in mind as brilliant as hers.