Anthony has trouble digesting their new predicament. Kate vents to her bestie and dishes out some home truths to her new husband (yes, you read that right).
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Yeah, so I know this scenario ridiculous. But that is absolutely the vibe for this story and I'm having fun. Set aside reality and enjoy the clowns love-hating each other.
You may have noticed all the chapter titles are sea faring terms. Feel free to drop ideas in the comments! I have up to ch.10 labelled but in typical fashion I fear my story may exceed that length.
You know sometimes I think what would have happened if Kate, Sophie, Penelope had proper paternal figures around and I always come to the conclusion that Anthony, Benedict, and Colin wouldn't be able to get away with half the shit they do in their books if they did.
Kate and Penelope come from homes full of women, and their fathers are at least a few years passed by the time they meet their respective Bridgerton in the books. Poor Sophie also technically comes from a home full of women too but we don't count them except for Posey.
Like just imagine an au of Mr. Sharma, the Earl of Penwood, and Lord Featherington being alive and being good dads with these cads running around their daughters.
Mr. Sharma comes to town with his wife and daughters for a London season. The family can't really afford more than one season so they got to make this count. Then here comes the Capital R Rake, who claims to want to court one daughter but keeps making bedroom eyes at the other. When they go to Aubrey Hall Mr. Sharma pulls Anthony aside and questions which of his daughters did Anthony want to court exactly? He then tells Anthony he expects an answer and an official asking of courtship from him by the end of the trip. Anthony then has to hide from Mr. Sharma as he plans the details of his sudden engagement to Kate, and he may over gift on his end. He knows there's no way of hiding his mark on Kate's chest, and Mary for sure told her husband.
Mr. Sharma makes sure to spread the word back in London to be weary of the Bridgerton cads. While yes, socially and financially, they be a good match, their scandalous behavior will corrupt your daughters.
The Earl sees this first hand when Benedict is circling Sophie like a dog in heat. No, sir, you will not corrupt my daughter! Sophie now has the protection needed to force Benedict to put in the work for an actual courtship. None of that be my mistress here good sir! Serious suitors only!
Lord Featherington didn't believe these rumors of the Bridgerton cads at first, yes they were rakes but most gentlemen their ages had explored by that point before settling down with their wives, if they even stopped after that. But such behavior towards a gentleman's daughter? Unthinkable. His own beloved youngest daughters have been friends with the Bridgertons for years, and they've always been proper. Well, Lord Featherington had forgotten that while yes, Penelope has been friends with the Bridgertons for years. One certain Bridgerton had been away at school for most of that time, and she only really knew him in passing. In comes when Penelope is first debuted and Colin Bridgerton is home from his Grand Tour to finish out his schooling. Oh no, why is Bridgerton C looking at his daughter like he looks at a biscuit? Lord Featherington holds his breath, wondering if this year every year is when that cad Colin Bridgerton tries to corrupt his precious daughter.
What I want to know is the reaction of the sheffields in the au were debutant Kate and Anthony get married . Papa Sharma is gonna get his claws out
Now that would be interesting.
Tharman had known from the moment he'd shaken Anthony Bridgerton's hand and told him he would support Kate's wish to marry him that this would be yet another thing for his father in law to wield against him. Another way he'd failed in their eyes, the way he always would. But he'd realised a long time ago he could bare almost anything, any snide remark or roll of his father in law's eyes as long as when he went home at the end of the night he had all his girls around him. Mary to kiss his forehead gently and Kate to roll her eyes and smirk at him and Edwina waiting to chew his ear off about whatever she'd read today. This was the life he'd never want to give up even if it meant he had to put up with the occasionally uncomfortable family dinner as his father in law snapped at him.
"Gad, man! You've no discipline at all with those girls!"
"Kate, is doing wonderfully this season, Father!" Mary's voice would snap back across the table with an irritated sigh. "And Edwina is already fluent in three languages."
"Yes and the hem of Kate's skirt is usually covered in three inches of mud. A firmer hand could fix it."
Yes, because that stopped your daughter from running away with a man you find completely repugnant Tharman thought a little tiredly but he bit it back with a sigh. "The girls are very happy and I think that far outweighs any other matter."
And from the look on his father in law's face he could tell he didn't agree for a single second.
But he could see how happy Kate was, sat in the corner of their drawing room, her fingers hesitantly intertwined with the young man who was still nervously looking around as though he thought Tharman might come to his senses and throw him from the room at any moment. The way Tharman himself had been thrown from Sheffield House if truth be told.
"He's too handsome." Tharman huffed that night, throwing his dressing gown angrily to the floor. "And don't think I didn't see you spirit away the bill for the morning coat he was wearing! Peacock Blue! As if he needed to look any more handsome!"
"Well I'm glad you're taking to Kate's engagement so calmly, my love." Mary said a little dryly Rolling her eyes as he clambered into bed beside her. "He's a very nice young man, you'll like him."
"What I'm concerned about is Kate liking him!" Tharman huffed, still scowling. "She's just a baby!"
"Oh so I was just a baby when we married, was I?"
Tharman startled, staring at his wife, "That is hardly fair!"
"She's a few months older than I was when I married you, already pregnant with your child if I remember correctly." Mary sighed, not looking up from her book.
"Well now you're just being ridiculous, Mary!"
"No you are, Tharman. We came to London to find Kate a husband. She wants a family, darling. She's a beautiful woman, whatever did you think was going to happen?"
"I thought your mother would scare her off the idea!" Tharman groaned, petulantly tugging at his blankets. "It worked with you!"
"Oh poor Tharman." Mary cooed, running her fingers through his hair. "His daughter has found a sweet young man who worships the ground she walks on who wants to give her a good life."
Tharman sighed, his chest feeling tight "I just want her to be happy."
"And she is with Anthony." Mary sighed. "He is a fine young man who will make her a good husband, and he's who she wants to marry. You'll like him."
Tharman sighed, "Your father is going to call me a soft touch again."
Mary kissed his forehead, "That's what I like best about you."
And perhaps it was that more than anything that had him sigh the next morning when Anthony scrambled nervously into the drawing room, bowing awkwardly to him and Mary before he blushed bright red, sitting next to Kate, gently inquiring about her morning.
"Anthony, I'm going to have to take you back to my tailor today."
The boy startled, leaping to his feet. "Y-your- your tailor, Sir?"
Tharman sighed, "I hate to put you through it but I'm afraid Lady Mary's parents are due for dinner and we'll be announcing your engagement this evening. I'll have some of my evening clothes altered to fit you."
"Y-yes, sir, Thank you, I've not- I hadn't thought to- Well I don't dress for dinner at home."
He stood in the tailor's shop nodding approvingly at the man who would become his son in law, his brow furrowed. "Do you know my story, boy?"
"You- You're a tradesman, sir."
Tharman chuckled, "I suppose that is now true. I was a secretary, Anthony. Lady Mary took a liking to me when we met by chance and she defied her parents to marry me and I swore my girls would never have to go through what we did. You are a good man, yes?"
"I- I try to be, Sir. I help my father with the farm and my mother with the children and I- I want to be a good husband, I wish for children and I'll be a good father to them." His fists were clenched at his sides, that same determined look Tharman had seen in his own eyes so many times.
"Breathe, Anthony. Save all this for my father in law. But remember: Kate chose you. She loves you, and that is what is worth it."
But even so when they stood that evening at the arrival of Lord and Lady Sheffield, Anthony looked as though he might faint when the man's eyes fell on him. And perhaps, Tharman should have felt relieved as they settled at the dinner table and Lord Sheffield's disapproving tut was for once, not for him but it tugged at his chest, the nervous sheen of sweat over Anthony's brow, the pleading look Kate was giving him. Help him, Appa, please.
"I hear congratulations are in order." Lady Sheffield sighed, turning to Kate. "Though not the engagement we were hoping for."
"Well, the Duke was not so very disappointed." Kate smiled stiltedly, shaking her head at Anthony across the table.
"And this one?" Lord Sheffield jerked his head at Anthony. "He's no title, No one's ever heard of him."
"I'm- I'm not from London, my lord." Anthony choked out, trying his best to tilt his chin proudly as the man sneered at him.
"You're not from anything with that accent."
"Lord Sheffield, I-" Tharman started, something surprisingly angry rising in his chest.
"Oh you'll stay quiet! My daughter threw her life away on you, and now you're letting the girl we made our granddaughter do just the same! If you'd disciplined her when you had the chance perhaps she'd be a Duchess by now!"
And finally something in him broke as he threw his cutlery down standing from the table.
"Enough, Sir! I will not suffer the indignity of your barbs against my family any longer! Not in my house!" His chest heaved as he took a deep breath, forcing himself forward even at the spike of terror he felt at the anger in his father in laws eyes. "I have apologised for the way my marriage came to be more times than I can count but I will do so no longer. I have made your daughter a good husband, she has been very happy in our life together and our girls have become very fine young women confident and happy that every choice they make will have the support of both of their parents. Anthony is a very fine young man who I shall be proud to call my son in due course."
Lord Sheffield stood from the table, his fist banging harshly against it. "I have never in my life-"
"Sir, I must ask you to leave us to our dinner." Tharman said politely, sitting back at the table, picking up his fork.
Mary's eyes were burning at him proudly, bolstering his confidence as were Kate's a small smile on her lips as they formed the words Thank you and still, Lord and Lady Sheffield stared at him in surprise.
"Jonathan," Tharman turned to the footman. "Lord and Lady Sheffield were leaving, perhaps you could see them to the front door."
And the moment the door slammed shut Tharman tugged irritatedly at his cravat, throwing it to the floor along with his dinner jacket, gesturing for a shocked Anthony to do the same.
"Take it off, son. There's no one to impress here."
"Katie, please climb down. It's okay. I don't want any more mangoes." Six-year-old Edwina's anxious shouts came from the ground to Kate, half a dozen mangoes already lying on a pile near her.
Kate stood on the branch of a massive mango tree situated to the far west of their family plot. She must have been almost 10 feet off the ground and she, being the older sister by a whole four years, was not deterred by little Edwina's shouts. She ignored them and continued climbing.
She had promised Edwina that she will give her the juiciest mango that she has ever eaten in her life, and Kate did not go back on her promises.
She had her eyes on a bunch of ripe mangoes dangling from one of the higher up branches. The mangoes swung low enough that if she moved three or four steps towards the right after climbing the next branch, her hands could reach them.
Climbing mango trees and guava trees was child's play for her by now. There was no tree in the world that she couldn't climb she thought a little cockily.
She held onto the main branch, her left foot solid on a lower branch and raised her right foot onto the smaller limb branching towards the right. She gripped a projection on the side for leverage and somehow managed to set her right foot on the targeted branch.
She let out a sigh of relief.
That was harder than she imagined. But it didn't matter, she liked new challenges.
She looked down at Edwina, staring worriedly, "Edwina get ready with the cloth. I'm going to pluck them and throw them onto the cloth one by one. You have to hold the cloth tightly to make sure that the mangoes don't touch the ground."
"Katie, please, I'm scared. Those mangoes are too far away. You don't have to get those. We already have so many."
"You don't have to be scared. It's just a couple of steps away. And look-" she held an arm out, "-these long hands will be able to grab those mangoes in no time. Besides, these ones are riper and sweeter than the ones down there." Even though Kate spoke confidently, she did take a peek at the mangoes in question just to be sure.
"Okay. If you're sure." Edwina still sounded distraught. "But be careful, Katie."
"Of course, I will be careful, kutti!" She smiled reassured at Edwina not certain if she could see her smile.
Kate took a deep breath and began to move. She first moved her right leg to the right, sliding a little and then dragged her left leg.
Okay not so bad.
But if she had to move anymore, she will have to remove her left hand off the branch too.
She took a deep breath again and removed her left hand.
She wobbled a bit before balancing herself.
She precariously copied the first moves again -right leg first and then the left, right leg and then left, right then left.
Finally, after what seemed like running a marathon, but what was essentially four steps, she could reach the mangoes.
She smiled and plucked one.
"Edwina, come and stand below me, but a little to my front so that I can see you. I'm going to throw one."
Edwina stood, holding a cloth spread as wide as her little hands allowed, "Ready."
Kate threw it and it hit the cloth and bounced onto the ground.
"Oops!" Edwina giggled.
Kate laughed, "That's okay. It happens."
Kate plucked the second one and did the same.
Soon she managed to pluck all the mangoes in the bunch but one.
It would be possible to pluck that one only if she took one more step, but the branch was thinning out and Kate did not know if it was worth taking the risk.
She thought for a moment and then decided to move ahead. Afterall what how bad could it be if she took just one more step.
She raised her right leg and set it on the branch.
Whew!
Nothing happened.
With the confidence, she was about to lift her left leg when the branch gave out and she slipped.
She cried out in alarm and fell onto the ground on her elbows, a lower offshoot breaking her fall.
Edwina was shouting loud for help, fat tears streaming down her face.
Kate tried to get up and stopped as she felt a pain coursing through her right elbow.
Edwina saw her attempt to get up and rushed to her side, in alarm, "Katie, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Fine."
Edwina's sobs turned to anger, "Don't lie, Katie. I saw your face. Where are you hurting?"
Before she could respond, her Appa and Mama came running, their faces etched with worry.
"What happened?" Milind Sharma asked looking at Kate.
They both looked at him, "Nothing happened, Appa!" Kate replied while Edwina loudly proclaimed, "Katie fell from the tree."
Kate shook her head knowing what was coming.
Her Appa loved her, and she knew there were few fathers like him who allowed their daughters to ride horses, learn shooting, climb trees and live their lives as they pleased.
But one hard and fast rule that Millind Sharma had was that they should not be careless.
"Katie, sometimes people act without thinking and they put themselves and others at risk. Never be careless! Always think about the consequences of your actions. Sometimes your careless action can hurt you and the ones who love you."
But she was surprised when he dropped next to Kate and inspected her hand.
Kate let out a yelp as he squeezed her joint and he looked at her.
"So, want to tell me what really happened?"
Kate's eyes started to tear up and she told him everything that happened.
Millind wiped away her tears and Mary came and consoled her as she finished her recount.
"Aww my poor baby. It's okay, Katie." Mary cooed in her ears.
Kate started full on sobbing hearing that, and she leaned forward into her Appa's arms feeling like a small child once again.
Edwina alarmed at Kate's crying walked to her Appa and tugged at his shirt, "Appa it's not Katie's fault. It's my fault. I asked her to pluck mangoes for me. That's why she climbed the tree."
Kate looked at Edwina in wonder, "You don't have to save me, kutti. You did warn me to stop. I didn't listen to you. It's my fault. I'm sorry."
"What's this my fault-your fault business here? No one is at fault." Mary spoke in a faux-serious turn.
"Mama is right. We have two beautiful daughters, and I love you both. I won't allow you to insult them, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Appa. We love you too." Kate and Edwina spoke, smiling sweetly.
"No love to Mama?" Mary asked trying to sound dejected when all she could feel was elation.
"We love you too, Mama!" They chanted in unison, giggling.
"I love you two, my sweet little troublemakers."
"Come on now, let's go inside." Millind gently picked Kate in his arms and Edwina seeing the opportunity asked her Mama to pick her up.
They walked away from the tree, talking and laughing, their hearts full and the mangoes laid there on the ground forgotten.
“Very bold of you to assume I didn’t lead him under my skirts, mama.”
YASSSS MARY GET IT GIRL
Anonymous asked:
“Very bold of you to assume I didn’t lead him under my skirts, mama.”
Mary Sharma seducing Papa Sharma !? What's that story?
Should we... See a little more how their marriage came to beeeeee? I think we should
Tharman knew he was an idiot. He'd have to be to get himself into this situation and yet every time Mary smiled at him he found himself sinking deeper and deeper into this ridiculous quagmire he found himself in. He could see her now, standing across the room, listening with polite interest as the real Earl of Davenport spoke of... shooting or hunting or some other gentlemanly pursuit.
She caught his eye over the man's shoulder her smile turning into something real and beautiful when she winked at him as the Earl turned away to place his glass on a tray. A tiny promise in her eyes as her lips formed the word later.
"Tharman, what are you doing hiding in the corner?!" The Earl of Bridgwater clapped him on the shoulder, his wife smiling indulgently behind him. "I did not invite you to my party to mope about in the corner. I invited you to dance with girls other than your charming daughter and have good food and drink."
Tharman rolled his eyes, at his employer whom he'd known for so long they were more friends than anything else. "Ravi I hardly think any of the Mamas here would be glad to entertain my asking their daughters to dance. You may have forgotten I'm your secretary, but most people won't."
Ravi rolled his eyes, "And who needs to know? Mr Tharman Sharma can be anyone he pleases tonight!"
And that was the difficult thing he supposed, he knew exactly who he wanted to be. He wanted to be a good father to his daughter, to bring her up with kindness and respect so she knew exactly who she was and knew he would support her with everything he was, always. And he wanted to be someone who Mary's parents would approve of. Someone who she didn't have to hide in the shadows to spend time with. Stolen moments at the back of parties and behind hedges was all they would ever have and she should stop, he shouldn't encourage her in her baffling pursuit of him. He told himself this every day as he dressed. Today, today, he would tell her that they had to stop. She could not keep meeting him in secret and drawing him in with her hand on his waistcoat until his lips fell hopelessly against hers. But every time he saw her he was helpless. Somehow this woman who he had no right to look at never mind lay a hand on, hod reached out and wrapped him tightly around her fist, tugging him around London after her.
"Tharman Sharma, is going home, because he promised the only young lady he cares about that they would have dessert together, I bought her a cake earlier in celebration." Tharman sighed, shrugging at Ravi whose wife had joined him, tucked into his side.
"You're a very sweet father." She said gently.
"He's Boring!" Ravi called after him ignoring his wife's admonishments.
Tharman breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped into the corridor, finally free of the uncomfortable eyes of society, more than a little relieved.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
He had no idea how she'd managed to step into the courtyard just seconds after him, how she'd slipped away from everyone and found him standing in the light from the fading lamps the embellishments on her gown shining so beautiful it broke his heart. Because this had to end. He knew it had to.
"I made a promise to another young lady that I would be home before she went to bed. I'm sorry to disappoint you."
Mary smiled shaking her head. "Oh, Kate is the one young lady I could never be sorry to lose you to."
He had been careful not to let them met again, not to let Kate get attached to a woman who could never be part of their lives properly. Indeed she was already bringing up That pretty lady far too much and she'd already lost one mother, even if she couldn't remember, he wouldn't break her heart with another. But Mary was a different matter, every time they had met she had asked after his daughter, kindly and curiously, smiling gently when he told her a story of something Kate had done, a soft smile on her face when she said I love children. I always wanted a pair of girls, I would raise them differently than I was. They'd only know love and kindness. And just like everything else it had only made him fall further.
"I'm sorry, I thought it best not to attempt to speak with you, your Mama was watching very carefully, no doubt she recognized me from our first meeting."
Mary shrugged, "She did, in fact she warned me to stay away from you."
It ached in his chest. Disapproval. Disapproval he would never win, not after nearly two months of this, not ever. "Perhaps you should."
She shook her head, "I don't think so." Her smile was truly one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. "Can I see you later?"
He groaned, his chest aching to deny her anything as he shook his head. "I don't think that would be a good idea."
She stepped towards him, her fingers closing around the edges of his coat, pulling him closer with her eyes shining, "Why? You don't think I look pretty tonight?"
"You know how beautiful you are every night. But-"
"Then, I'll see you later." Mary kissed the end of his nose, stepping back before he could protest properly.
"Mary-"
"Mary?!" Lady Sheffield's voice rang towards them from the doorway. "God where is that useless girl?!"
Mary rolled her eyes before she winked back at him disappearing into the night and once again Tharman was left watching her walk away helplessly, his heart clutched firmly in her hand.
The knock at the door came after he'd tucked Kate into bed, his waistcoat still covered in icing from the way Kate's sticky fingers had twisted in it as she tried to convince him why it would be a very good thing were he to buy her a puppy at Christmas. Every time Mary had come here, since she'd bribed a driver to tell her where he lived, he met her visits with equal parts dread and anticipation, every one of them sand through an hour glass, the remainder of their relationship shortening and shortening.
Mary was standing in the doorstep, her cloak covering her face just as it always was against the rain, drizzling outside.
She stepped inside, kissing his cheek lightly as she always did throwing her hood back when she crossed the threshold, stepping into the living room. She'd changed out of her gown from earlier, a riding habit on under her cloak he saw as she removed it, smiling gently up at him
"You look handsome tonight, I didn't have a chance to tell you earlier."
Tharman sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I've cake icing on my waistcoat and a little in my hair. Kate wants a puppy and she was a little ... exuberant in her persuasion."
Mary chuckled, running her fingers through her own hair. "Being a good father is part of what makes you so handsome."
He shook his head a little in disbelief, longing to let himself be close to her, but terrified to do it. "Lady Mary-"
"Oh dear, I'm Lady Mary again, this must be serious."
"It is serious. I- I have been... I have wronged you, these last months. I have encouraged your attentions and while I have... enjoyed the time we have spent together it was wrong to take it from you, and you must you must see that this cannot be what you want it to be."
It hurt him to say it, just as it had the first time when they'd only spoken once before and it was even worse now. Knowing he'd wronged her.
Mary stared back at him from the middle of the room her beautiful brow furrowed "You haven't... taken anything from me."
His jaw ached from clenching it tears already pricking at his eyes. "I have, and if we went any further than we already have I would steal your entire future from you. I would... be unable to not make you my wife and your parents, society would never allow it."
She stared back at him, her jaw set determinedly, "Why is this only your choice?"
"It's not but-"
"Why is who i marry my father's choice? Why can I not give myself to you freely if that is what I wish? Why?"
"Mary, please. I only want what's best for you, I want you to be happy and-"
"You make me happy, Tharman." She'd stepped forward, clutching at his waistcoat. "I could be your wife, and I would love your daughter, you know I would. I would make her feel so loved, I would. You just have to ask me."
He could hardly see her through the tears, "I want all of that, I want you to be my wife, but your father would never allow it and-"
Mary stepped back, her eyes blazing, her hands fumbling for the fastenings of her dress letting it fall to the floor. "Make me your wife then."
Tharman felt all the air leave the room, his voice croaking, "Mary-"
She shook her head, cutting him off with her lips on his desperately, her fingers fumbling over her stays. "I want to be your wife, Tharman. And I'm not going to wait for anyone to tell me I can be. Make me your wife."
He'd told himself it would never get this far, that all it was was stolen kisses and fingers intertwined and her hands in his hair and her lips on his neck. He could never take this from her, he'd told himself he wouldn't, couldn't put herself in the position of having his illegitimate child but he couldn't stop his heart pounding in his chest, every heart beat whispering what he desperately wanted to say. So he said it.
"I love you."
She nodded against him, her smile shining so beautifully in the dim light, "I love you too. Now take your wife to bed, Mr Sharma."
He could hardly breathe as he carried her to his bedroom, his hands shaking as he tugged at the laces of her stays, tears in his eyes as they became one, her gasps and moans making a home in his chest, theirs forever.
Even as they lay together in the after, her bare skin against his he promised things would be different.
"I'm going to make this right. I'll go to your father, and I'll ask for your hand and you won't have to lose your family, your life."
Mary nodded, "I would run away with you tomorrow."
Ravi would protect him. He knew he would but it wasn't what he wanted, not for Kate, not for Mary, not for the children they might have so he let her go. He let her slide from his house before dawn broke promises falling from both their lips and that morning he dressed with intention, pulled himself together and knocked on the front door of Sheffield house.
He could feel Lord Sheffield's confusion rolling off him in waves as Tharman stood before him in his study, anxiety rolling in his stomach.
"You're Bridgwater's secretary are you not?" His tone was crisp and dismissive staring across the table at him.
"Yes my Lord." Tharman nodded.
"I've no work here, man, if Bridgwater's dismissed you. Who told you I would?"
"No-No one sir. I'm not here to see employment I wish- I wish to discuss your daughter."
Lord Sheffield froze, cold fury seeping into his voice, "What knowledge have you of my daughter?"
Tharman's cheeks were burning as he forced himself to look the man in the eye, squaring his shoulders, "I met Lady Mary some months ago by chance and we have... met again since and I... I would like to ask you for her hand in marriage."
Lord Sheffield stared back at him for a long moment, his fingers drumming on the dark wood of his desk for a long moment before he spoke, his voice cold and sharp, needling at him. "And what are your prospects?"
"I- I have a good job and I've enough money to support a wife as well as my daughter and I-"
"Your daughter?"
Tharman nodded, "I have a daughter, Kate, whom I love very much and-"
"You love your daughter? And if a man came to you with no prospects, no money and from nowhere not even a gentleman and asked for her hand what would you do?"
"If he loved her and she loved him then-"
Lord Sheffield practically leapt from his chair, his voice roaring through the room as his fists banged on the desk. "Enough! You think you love my daughter?! You've no right to be in the same room as her much less speak to her. Her marriage is as good as arranged."
He had never felt so small, stuttering and stammering to find the words "I- With respect Lord Sheffield, Lady Mary knows her mind and she wants to be my wife, I-"
Her father froze again, his race turning steadily redder his voice dangerous, "You've dishonoured her, haven't you?"
Tharman paused for a moment too long, he knew he did but he hadn't expected the man's reaction. He let out a roar of fury, making his way around the desk, grabbing tharman roughly by the collar of his coat, dragging him from the room as he struggled helplessly against it.
"Papa!"
oh god, please let her not see this
Mary was standing on the stairs no doubt she'd been waiting for him to emerge, her face stricken as she took him in being dragged through the hall of her home. his heels kicking out wildly.
"Tharman!" She'd made to follow them, darting forwards reaching for him.
"Mary, it's alright, go back upstairs. It's alright."
Lord Sheffield tugged him down the back stairs, his voice echoing so the servants stared after them, "Don't speak to her! Don't even look at her!"
"Papa! Papa please don't!" She was tugging on her father's arm now, tears streaming down her face. "papa please! I love him! He'll be a good husband!"
"Mary, enough I'll deal with you later!"
he threw open the door to the rain pounding in the courtyard outside, tossing Tharman out into it before he grabbed the front of his coat pulling him upright his face just inches from Tharman's own.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Sight. I will be speaking to your employer, you will no doubt lose your position and any standing you had, I hope you explain to your daughter that your actions brought you here while you starve in the street."
"Papa Please." Mary's voice was a tiny little thing, as her father turned back towards her, "I love him, Papa, I love him."
"You love him? Love does not feed children, Mary, it does not provide for you. This man will amount to nothing, he will be just as he is now. Nothing."
He felt it, in that moment, rain soaking into his clothes into his boots, his heart breaking on the street for the hope he'd allowed himself to have.
"It'll be enough, Papa, I know it will."
"Not for my daughter! Not in this house!" He spun back around shoving Tharman further into the rain. "If I ever, see you again, I'll have you clapped in irons now go!"
And the last thing Tharman remembered was Mary begging her father as tears ran down her face.
