The Importance of Love Read Free Page A

away from your house. I have told him frequently not to bother you and I am most displeased that he has disobeyed me.”
    â€œDavid, if you will only listen to the boy. He has a chance to make something of himself and bring glory to the family name.”
    â€œRubbish! He came seeking money for the gaming houses. Don’t think I am such a fool that I do not know where he spends most of his time. You did not believe what he said, surely?”
    â€œBut, Father, what Grandfather says is true. Teddy Chalmers has tipped me off about an old place that could be just right to show off my skills.”
    â€œWhat a waste of time that would be! How you scraped through Cambridge is beyond me. And I have paid the price in more ways than one.”
    â€œDavid, I don’t think we should be raking up the past again. The boy did not wish to marry the Merriott girl for good reasons.”
    â€œAnd I lost out on a great deal of money and a lucrative business partnership because he did not snap her up. The silly young fool! United our two families would have been the most powerful force in the land.”
    â€œBut I did not wish to get married, Father.”
    â€œWe are not put on this earth as the ruling class so that we may choose when and whom we marry,” he snapped angrily. “There are more important considerations such as loyalty to one’s family. Considerations that you appear to have forgotten in your selfish life.”
    â€œ Stop this ,” cried the Marquis, quite clearly upset. “I will not have such words spoken in my house.”
    However, the Earl continued to rail against his son, becoming more and more agitated. He thrust his finger into the young man’s chest repeatedly and ugly words spilled forth from his lips.
    â€œ Stop !” called the Marquis again weakly.
    Bates noticed that his Master was turning a peculiar colour and appeared to be having difficulty in breathing. His face turned blue and he slowly sank to his knees.
    As the Earl had his back to him, the first he realised that something was amiss was when the Viscount rushed to help Bates haul the old man to a nearby chair.
    â€œSend someone for the doctor,” yelled the Viscount, loosening his grandfather’s necktie. “And make haste.”
    The Earl stood horrified in the hall. He could neither move nor speak.
    â€œGrandfather! Can you hear me?”
    The Viscount was kneeling down by the old man and patting his hand. The Marquis let out a long sigh and then expired.
    â€œGrandfather. No! No! No !”
    â€œYou – have – killed him,” muttered the Earl, falling back against the wall.
    The Viscount laid his head on his dead grandfather’s knee and stifled a sob.
    He had been brought up to believe it was not manly to cry, but how could he not shed a tear when the man he loved and respected more than any other had just died?
    â€œGet up, you fool!” shouted his father hoarsely. “You are making a spectacle of yourself crying like a weak girl.”
    The Viscount remained with the Marquis until the doctor arrived.
    â€œI am so sorry, my Lord,” he said, shaking his head. “I would suggest that you have the servants remove his body to his bedroom. I will drop in on the undertaker on the way back to my house and ask him to come at once.”
    â€œThank you,” replied the Viscount, choking back his emotions. “That is very kind of you.”
    â€œI shall have to go home and write out the death certificate and will have it delivered as soon as possible. The undertakers will need it.”
    â€œOf course, thank you, doctor.”
    The Viscount walked with him to the door and past his still-stunned father. As he closed the door behind him, he turned to face the Earl.
    â€œFather – ”
    â€œDon’t speak to me and don’t look at me,” snarled the Earl in a tone of voice that sounded as hollow as it was dangerous. “You are no