Chapter 138: Hosea's Second Spring
“It’s Beau!”
Penelope’s voice lit up with surprise.
“Oh, he really is…”
“Eccentric?” Arthur finished for her.
Penelope let out a soft laugh. “Yes, he is a bit eccentric, but… also very interesting.”
“The rest of my family lives like they’re stuck in the Middle Ages—or… well, I don’t know, maybe the Stone Age.”
“Beau is different. But if they ever found out about us, they’d kill him and ship me off to some horrible place.”
“Like… Ohio. Have you ever been to Ohio, sir?”
Arthur accepted the cup of tea she handed him. “No.”
Penelope went on, “Well, neither have I. But my uncle has a factory there. He used to be the family’s black sheep because he chose to leave.”
“But now they all accept him because he’s a vicious, petty tyrant.”
“Family is just… well… impossible to explain.”
“Do you have family, sir?”
Arthur thought of Mary, of Eliza, of Isaac.
“I… don’t. Not really.”
Penelope didn’t seem to notice his shift in mood. With a touch of sadness, she continued, “My family only tolerates my uncle because he’s rich.”
“But me? The moment I have a thought that doesn’t fit my place, they can’t stand it.”
“Tonight, there’s a gathering at the estate. They’re hosting a young man who’s supposed to be quite outstanding.”
“My family wants me to catch his eye and marry him—to help the family’s business and wealth.”
“I know Beau’s dealing with the same thing. His family wants him to marry a girl named Mathilde.”
Arthur still hadn’t realized that the “outstanding young man” Penelope mentioned was Davey.
“This sounds complicated. It seems both of you already have someone else chosen for you… arranged by your families. And neither of you want that.”
“Breaking free of fate’s shackles… well, I don’t really know what to say.”
Penelope stood and took a letter from her bag—clearly prepared long ago.
“There’s nothing to say, except that I hope they all go to hell.”
“I… I don’t… Well, maybe a little.”
“If you happen to see Beau again, could you give him this letter?”
Arthur accepted it and agreed.
Maybe he wanted to see whether these two could actually break free from their families’ plans.
...
Evening.
Davey arrived at the Braithwaite Manor mansion on horseback with two of his men.
The guards had clearly been informed ahead of time; Davey didn’t even need to show an invitation before reaching the front entrance.
As soon as they heard movement, the elderly Lady Catherine, her three sons, and Hosea all came out to greet him.
“Oh, Davey, it really is you. When Mrs. Braithwaite told me, I could hardly believe it.”
“Now, I finally get to see you again, Davey.”
“It’s been so long—did you miss me at all?”
As Davey dismounted, Hosea walked up with a smile and pulled him into a hug.
“Good to see you, Hosea. Looks like you’ve been living well here lately.”
“Maybe I should start wondering whether life has given you a new springtime.”
Davey’s remark carried a teasing implication—a subtle jab at the rumors about him and Mrs. Braithwaite.
Considering their ages, they weren’t far apart, and Hosea was still a remarkably charming man at his age.
“Well, Davey, I knew nothing decent would come out of your mouth,” Hosea said with a helpless look.
Compared to his warmth toward Hosea, Davey was noticeably colder toward the Braithwaite family.
“Mrs. Braithwaite, if it weren’t for Mr. Matthews being here, I probably wouldn’t have bothered attending this banquet. You should be grateful you managed to invite someone I know.”
The cheerful atmosphere stiffened instantly.
Even Hosea hadn’t expected Davey to speak in that tone—it was a clear slight toward the Braithwaite family.
Lady Catherine’s face tightened with anger, and her three sons glared at Davey with open hostility.
But they could only swallow it.
Lady Catherine forced a smile. “Then I suppose we must thank Mr. Matthews.”
On the surface, the Braithwaite family had deeper roots and a longer-standing reputation than Davey, with more than a hundred guards.
But the Callander brothers—wanted for the Blackwater robbery—were among the West’s finest gunmen. Davey had even founded a security company with over fifty hired men.
Including his older crew, their numbers didn’t fall short of the Braithwaite guards, and their quality was far superior.
Most importantly, Davey’s moonshine business and its unique sales model let him devour wealth at an astonishing pace.
That was the main reason Lady Catherine feared him.
They were already rivals in the moonshine trade, and the feud caused by the Laramie Gang only made things worse.
So Davey naturally felt no obligation to show them any courtesy.
Author's Note
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