The Importance of Love Read Free

you over that dashed Merriott girl.”
    The Viscount put down his fork, having lost all his appetite.
    â€œ Father ,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “He complains that I live a wasted life and then, when I seek to knuckle down and make a name for myself, he puts obstacles in my path.”
    â€œHe will not bend, David, and I am so sorry I cannot help you. Is there anyone else you can ask?”
    â€œNot for such a large sum, Grandfather. It would not be right. And the bank is under Father’s sway and will not loan me such an amount. He has effectively handcuffed me until I agree to marry.”
    â€œThat is a pity, David,” sighed the Marquis. “I shall speak with him on your behalf, but I would not hold out a great deal of hope that he might change his mind. Once set, even the Almighty himself could not budge him from his path!”
    The Viscount drained his cup of coffee and threw down his napkin.
    â€œIt is such a shame and it will be a great opportunity missed,” he said. “And now, I should leave you in peace. Is Grandmama in?”
    â€œNo, she is staying at friends in Brighton and will not be returning until later today.”
    â€œThen send her my love. I shall detain you no longer.”
    He rose and shook his grandfather’s hand solemnly and Bates was ready waiting for him with his hat.
    The Viscount decided to go for a stroll in Green Park and began to make his way towards Buckingham Palace, but he had not gone far when he saw none other than his father striding towards him.
    Taking a deep breath, the Viscount prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation. Relations were very strained between father and son and he knew it would not be an easy encounter.
    The Earl halted for a moment as he caught sight of his son coming towards him. He rolled up his newspaper with a decisive gesture and walked forwards with a grim expression upon his face.
    â€œDavid,” he said halting by him. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI have been to see Grandfather,” he answered, waiting for the inevitable burst of anger. His father did not disappoint him.
    â€œYou did what ?” he raged, turning red in the face. “I told you to keep away from him with your begging bowl, you ingrate!”
    â€œBut, Father, I had hoped to resurrect my career as an architect and had found a property to show off my abilities to everyone – ”
    The Earl grabbed his son by the arm and began to frogmarch him back in the direction of Belgrave Square.
    â€œNow you will come with me and apologise for bothering him.”
    â€œFather, I do wish you would not treat me like a child,” pleaded the Viscount, as he shrugged off his father’s grip.
    He would be thirty at his next birthday, yet his father still behaved as if he was a ten-year-old. And, being an only child, he bore the brunt of his father’s expectations and plans for the Kennington family.
    â€˜I wish Mama was still alive,’ he thought, as he was led back to his grandfather’s house. ‘She always used to stand up for me.’
    But his mother had died not long after he had graduated from Cambridge. She had fallen ill with typhoid after working with the poor in the East End of London and not being very strong, she succumbed to death within weeks of being infected.
    They soon arrived back at the Marquis’s house. Bates was shocked to see the Earl and the Viscount standing on the doorstep.
    Without waiting for him to speak, the Earl barged his way past him with a resigned-looking Viscount following behind.
    â€œFather!” he shouted. “Where are you?”
    The old Marquis shuffled into the hall with his newspaper still in his hand. He looked as if he had only just finished his breakfast.
    â€œDavid,” he called, for the Earl’s name was the same as his son’s.
    â€œFather, I was on my way to visit you when I found this miscreant in the street, sneaking