For Better or For Worse

Chapter 2

“Couldn’t you have feigned ignorance?” Graham asked, exasperated.

“I’m appalled that my dear grandfather would use his one and only heir for his own personal grudge!”

“Grudge?!” Graham spluttered. So it was true that his grandfather was using him, that was how Cedric interpreted it.

Graham’s shoulders sagged as if all the fight had gone out of him. “This is just an old man’s wish,” he said quietly. The Duke of Southerwick slowly closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them and began to recount his story.

The duke told a tale of puppy love from more than fifty years ago. It also happened to be the story of his own first love, which, for the passionate young duke, had been anything but carefree.

Before she became Lila Langton, she was known as Lila Smith—a beautiful woman with hair as golden as the sun’s rays, bright and dewy skin, and intelligent eyes the color of emeralds. But it was her kind heart that made her truly beautiful.

Graham had loved her very much. But by the time he had met her, Lila was already engaged to the viscount, the duke’s long-time friend. The only thing he could do was give up on her, not because he wasn’t confident he could win against Morgan, but because he didn’t want to lose such a good friend. And besides, Graham knew that Morgan would be able to make Lila happy for the rest of her life.

Graham ended up marrying Laura, a long-time acquaintance. He fell in love with her and they had three sons together, and over time, his memory of Lila became hazy. All that remained clear were his initial feelings for her and the thrill and sweet agony of unrequited first love.

From time to time, Graham would correspond with the Langtons. They even came to visit after the birth of Graham’s first son, and it was while they were there that Graham said, almost without thinking, “Let’s have my son and your daughter marry each other.” The Langtons happily agreed. Perhaps they thought it was a playful pact, but for Graham, it was more than that.

That was how his first love came to an end. At the time, Graham thought he had to keep his promise, but both he and the Langton couple only ever had sons, and gradually, Graham forgot about the agreement. In fact, he completely forgot about it until the death of his wife, Laura.

After his longtime partner succumbed to her illness and passed away, Graham felt old, worn out, and like death was right around the corner. He was often lost in thought, contemplating any dreams he had yet to fulfill. Was there anything like that? Then he thought of something: Lila and Morgan. That lighthearted promise they had made so long ago. How could he fulfill his side of the agreement from back then?!

And so Graham’s story went on and on. Cedric had rarely seen his grandfather so animated, but he was tired and his grandfather’s lengthy, dramatic speech was beginning to get to him. His listening skills, honed over the past twenty-eight years, were near perfect.

His grandfather had always been one to exaggerate and Cedric would bet half of his entire fortune that Graham didn’t fear death—if he did, he wouldn’t have sailed a tiny boat alone in a typhoon just last month.

Cedric rubbed his eyes. “Can you get to the point?”

“You little punk.”

Cedric shrugged and Graham narrowed his eyes.

“I saw that child once in her youth,” he said. “She must have been around six at the time, and she looked just like Lila. Bright blond hair and intelligent green eyes. Even back then I thought, ‘How wonderful it would be if my grandson could marry her.’”

“Grandmother would roll over in her grave if she heard you say that.”

“Damn it, you little punk! Shush! Just so you know, I genuinely loved and cherished your grandmother!”

Cedric already knew that. Graham and Laura, Cedric’s late grandmother, were a very affectionate couple up until her death last year. They were actually so in love that Cedric had worried he might end up with a much younger uncle one day.

“It’s just... you never forget your first love.”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Cedric replied sullenly.

“Have you ever been in love?” asked Graham.

“If that’s what love is, then I doubt I’ll ever experience it in my life.”

“You’re like a man who won’t bleed even if you’re stabbed.”

“It’s because I have such a wonderful grandfather.”

“If you don’t like the idea, then you don’t have to do it. I have other grandchildren, you little jerk,” Graham snapped.

“I didn’t say no. I’ll make sure to visit the viscount soon,” Cedric responded coolly as he stood up. Graham silently watched him bow before stopping him.

“Cedric.”

“Yes?”

“I’m serious about this. I really think the Langton girl will be a perfect match for you,” Graham said solemnly. Indeed, there was a part of him that wanted this marriage to happen for selfish reasons, but he also wanted the best for his eldest grandson and he believed that Haley would be good for him.

After all, anyone who was both a Langton and Lila’s granddaughter could never be bad. Morgan’s son, Robert, was a good man and the same applied to his wife, Sarah. Therefore, Haley must also be a good person. It was perfectly logical, Graham was sure.

Cedric nodded. “Of course.”

“Make sure you send him my regards.”

“I will.” Cedric bid his grandfather farewell and left his mansion. If he finished everything he had to do, he could visit the viscount in a week.

Twenty-eight years old. To some, he was at an age where he was too young to get married; to others, he was already too old. Someone who had a betrothed from childhood would be married already, but a bachelor who liked to fool around and enjoy life would remain unmarried well into his thirties.

“Haley Langton,” he said to himself. Yes, it was sudden, but Cedric had no reservations. Things like this could happen. Arranged marriages weren’t uncommon in aristocratic society. And besides, he had faith in his grandfather’s taste in women. His late grandmother, Laura, was a wonderful person. She had even spoken highly of Lila Langton, and he knew his grandmother had a discerning eye. “If Haley Langton is anything like Lila, then she must be a lovable person.”

Contrary to what people thought of him, Cedric did believe in love. He knew true love existed—his father had found it with his mother. Even his foolish grandfather had loved his grandmother deeply. Cedric believed that he too would find love one day.

And it wasn’t unusual for people to grow to love each other in an arranged marriage. He was twenty-eight years old, but he hadn’t met the woman he wanted to marry yet, so maybe Haley Langton could be that woman. Cedric mulled it over, his anticipation growing. She could be the one, or maybe she wasn’t.

It was true, he might not be a hopeless romantic, but he was a romantic, nonetheless.

* * *

A week later, Cedric set off on his journey.

“Excuse me, sir. Where might I find Viscount Langton’s estate?”

“His estate is in that direction, sir.”

“Thank you.”

The Langtons lived in a quiet, rural village. Cedric had no idea if the land still belonged to them. Although their estate was located in a remote and sparsely populated area, the scenery wasn’t bad.

He had sent a message to the viscount alerting him to his visit, but he hadn’t specified the exact date and time. He also brought no servants with him and even drove a simple carriage by himself—he didn’t want to make the visit seem too official. He wanted it to appear like he just happened to be in the area to give the viscount his grandfather’s regards. He didn’t at all want to come across as a man ready to propose to a woman he had never met before.

He may have been biting off more than he could chew, but at least he had teeth to begin with. The problem was that the Langton estate was located in a remote location far from the center of town, and it was impossible to find with just the address. Cedric had already asked for directions, but now he had come to another fork in the road.

He looked between the two paths silently. Everything around him was quiet too. Cedric paused, holding onto the reins. Five minutes later, he saw the shadow of a person in the shrubs. A boy emerged wearing a hunting cap low on his forehead and had a sack slung on his back. Cedric slowly maneuvered the wagon so he was traveling alongside the boy.

“Hey, kid.” There was no response so Cedric raised his voice. “Hey, you!”

Still, there was no response. Met with silence, Cedric began to add more descriptions. “Hey, I’m talking to you, in the rolled-up trousers with the brown hat!”

Finally, the boy turned around and faced him.