Chapter 4: CHAPTER 3
Ryder poured the candle wax into the envelope before sealing it. Seeing it was properly sealed, he shifted the envelope to the side and relaxed into the chair. His eyes were trained on the candle, something about the way the candle burned was soothing. During his time in the prison, he would always stare at the burning lamps, daring them to talk. He fished for his pocket watch and frowned, he was late. Just in time, someone knocked on the door. "Come in," He was yet to close his mouth when a man's head poked into the room.
"Clear, not naked." Entering the room, the man walked to the miniature bed and hissed, "You should change the bed or at least, fix it."
"Godfrey, my bed, my business." Came Ryder's voice,
"Did you hear about it?" Godfrey asked, voice serious.
"I did. He is a fool."
"I second that. The news is everywhere. Some say he died of a heart attack while some say it was suicide. Which one do you think it is?" asked Godfrey in confusion,
"For some people, death is the only way out." Ryder offered a shrug of indifference.
"You think it's suicide? That is absurd!"
"The man had a lot going on."
"He can't do that! What about his children? He is a coward. Running away like that and leaving all the burden on his children." Turning his full attention to Ryder, Godfrey asked, "What did you say to him yesterday?"
Raising one of his bushy brows, Ryder asked, "What does that mean?"
"I mean, people won't find it funny if they find out the infamous ex-convict visited the nobleman just hours before he took his life or had a heart attack."
"How's that my problem? I only went there to ask for the huge amount of money he owed my late father! It is only right he paid the debt."
"Ryder, what else did you say to him? I am sure if you sounded this way, we wouldn't have a problem."
"Are you saying I killed the man?"
"No. I hope you didn't threaten him."
Ryder quickly averted his eyes from Godfrey's. "It was just a little warning. I couldn't help it. The man had been living off other people's money for decades while parading himself as a wealthy nobleman. I only teased him about revealing the truth behind his non-existent wealth."
"From warning to tease?" Godfrey repeated the word, his brows equally rising.
"Okay, maybe it was more than a tease. Lord Blackwood is—was a very funny man. He was trying to evade the debt by claiming that the deal was between him and my late father."
"Did anybody see you at his place?"
"What difference will that make?" He refused to point out that the man's daughter might have seen him on his way out. "What matters is that when I left the man, he was hale and hearty." He squinted his eyes at Godfrey, "Are you trying to call me a murderer— again?"
"What? No. I am just concerned."
"There is nothing to be concerned about. I have no hand in his death." Picking up the envelope, he handed it over to Godfrey, "Deliver this to Lord Blackwood's son."
Godfrey's eyes darted between the envelope and Ryder, "What's happening?"
"Nothing much. The man had offered me his daughter yesterday in exchange of the money and I accepted."
"You what?"
"I said I accepted the offer. I hate repeating myself."
"I was hoping I to have heard you wrong."
"Well, you didn't."
"Why would you accept a deal like that? Are you insane?"
"You should have asked Lord Blackwood that when he made the offer,"
"What are you doing? Is your brain in that prison?"
Once again, Ryder offered a shrug of indifference, "Maybe."
"This is ridiculous!" Realising his anger and attempt to talk the man out of the plan won't work. The man was incorrigible. "Are you seriously thinking of pushing through with the deal?"
"Was that not why I gave you the letter? Tell him to send her over tomorrow. Failure to do so will have its ugly consequences."
"Ryder, are you insane?"
"You sure do ask lots of questions," Ryder's head leaned on the back of the chair as he stared at the tattered roo of his farmhouse. "I need to repair the roof. It gets worse as days go by. I need money."
Godfrey's brows pulled together, "Hold on, are we talking about Lord Blackwood's daughter who is getting married to the Duke of The East?
"Probably,"
"You can't be serious, Ryder! You are about to end a wedding between the most anticipated couple. The most talked about wedding! You have to end this deal as quickly as possible. Do you hear me? Duke of the East!"
"I believe the dead man knew that before making the deal. Ah, do not worry, I was there when he wrote to the duke about calling off the wedding due to personal reasons."
Godfrey didn't know what drove him crazy anymore. Was it Ryder's new information? Or the man's nonchalant attitude towards the situation. "Ryder, you can't marry his daughter. That will cause a scandal!"
"Do I look like I care?"
"No, which is a thing of concern. You have to put an end to this madness. The girl's father just died, give her some time."
"I am only taking what's mine."
"Is there not something else you can take in place of the girl?"
"I wanted the mansion, but unfortunately, the man had already sold it out to one of the too many people he was owing."
"I am sure there is something else. Perhaps other properties. I am sure the man had enough to keep his generation going. Not the girl."
"You would be surprised to know the man has nothing attached to his name. Not even one horse. Do not fear. It is only temporary. She will seize to be my wife the day her brother completes the debt. I have no use of her."
"This doesn't make sense. You are not going to get anything out of this, and besides, do you think this girl will accept and love you?"
"I do not look forward to such nonsense,"
"Ryder, she is getting married to the Duke of the East, every woman's dream man and you are stopping that from happening. She is going to hate you."
"A man must pay what he owes. That is my rule." Came Ryder's dismissive words, "Go now and deliver the letter. I have some work to do."
Later that evening, Calantha's eyes slowly opened revealing a familiar ceiling in her room. She quickly sat up on the bed, hand holding her chest in panic. Her eyes flew to the door that suddenly opened, revealing Theo. "You are finally up," He flashed her a small smile.
"I had a bad dream." Oh, she never knew dreams could feel so real. It hurt so much, "I dreamt of where father died. You were kneeling over his corpse. Your eyes were bloodshot and swollen." She fixed her gaze on her brother expecting him to tell her it was just a bad dream, but the solemn look on his face made her heart thud so hard in her chest. "Theodore…"
"Cal, it wasn't a dream…" His eyes quickly turned watery, but he held the tears back.
Looking away from him, Calantha wiped her eyes as reality began to set in. Her father died. "Why?" She sniffled, trying to hold back the sobs, " Why did he leave us? What happened to him?"
"He had a heart attack in his study room," Theo sniffled, "Cal, there is something you should know."
"Was it because of the money? Tell him to return to us, I don't need it anymore."
"Cal, it wasn't because of the money."
"Was it something you did?" She looked at her brother with an accusing look,
"Cal, you need to hear me out." Theo was cut short again,
"He promised to walk me down the aisle. We had an agreement,"
"Calantha, there won't be a wedding."
She paused, "Excuse you? Just because father is dead doesn't mean we have to cancel the wedding."
"Father called off the wedding before his demise,"
Surprised and confused, "What? Why would he do that?"
"It is complicated,"
"Theo, please tell me you are joking."
"Oh Cal, I wish I could do that." He looked away from her again. "The whole thing is complicated,"
"It can't be complicated enough to call off my wedding without my consent!" Her breathing turned heavy, "Did my fiance agree to this? I bet he didn't. I need to speak with him!"
"Harold agreed to it. He had no choice."
"No, I am sure he didn't. He loves me."
"Cal, I am sorry." He sat beside her on the bed, "I need you to calm down and listen to me,"
After a few minutes of uncontrollable tears, she managed to calm down a little bit. "Go ahead, I am listening."
"We won't be staying here any longer,"
"Why? Did something happen to the house?"
Clearing his throat, he said, "Papa paid for it to be renovated."
Brows pulled together, Calantha asked, "But there is nothing wrong with the house."
"Yes, but he wanted to make some changes. And there are rooms that the roofs are bad,"
"Okay, so we would be going to our other mansion,"
Theodore's heart thudded against his chest. He didn't know how to break the news about what their beloved late father had done, "Cal," He paused. The words were there but he didn't have it in him to let them out of his mouth. But he had no choice but to uphold the deal. "Calantha, papa married you off," The silence that followed was too heavy as the brother and sister stared at each other. Theo broke the silence, "I am sorry,"
"Sorry? You might want to repeat what you said earlier."
"I tried my best to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen. He said his hands were tied. He said it was for the best…"
The rest of his explanation didn't make it to Calantha's ears. She interrupted him, "To who? Who is it that Papa married me off to?"
"Mr Walker. You know, the dirty visitor from yesterday."
Calantha winced upon hearing the name. She had one explanation for all that was happening. Dream. She was waking up from one bad dream to another, not knowing which one was worse. Her hands shook on her thighs. "That can't be true. Why would he do that to me,"
"There is something else you should know,"
Calantha's heart jumped into her stomach. She didn't think she was ready for another bad news Theo was about to dump on her, "What is it this time?"
"Did you hear about that the prisoner that was recently released?" Theo hoped she would say no. That way, it would be easier for him to
Brows pulled together, she nodded, "I read about him in the morning paper."
Of course, the bloody morning papers. "Well, he is the one,"
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