Adam's parents were not happy. Adam waited for their arrival just outside the door, he could feel his nerves in disarray.
John, his little brother, gasped in surprise as he saw his face. "What happened to you?" he asked the minute he stepped out the carriage.
"I got into a fist fight with the monkey at the circus," he replied playfully as he rubbed John's hair with his fist. John squirms away and enters the house directly to Perry, their sheep dog.
Adam Lancaster Sr. stood tacitly watching him carefully. He couldn't believe that his own son was capable of such vile thing. Sure, he was popular with girls, and yes, he liked flirting, but he was a gentleman. He knew how to treat a lady, he instructed him himself. Adam's mother, having heard the gossip back from where they were and refusing to believe a single word of it, embraces his son with just as much love as always.
"I brought you some herbs for your injuries," she said lovingly. "Why don't you come inside and I'll treat them?"
Adam nodded, and his mother made her way inside. Adam took a few steps towards his father, who kept watching him mutely, but stopped as he sees his glaring eyes.
"Come to my study. I want a word with you," he commanded.
They walked silently inside their house, and up the stairs. His mother and brother have locked themselves in their rooms, only their footsteps were heard in the silence. Once they entered his father's study, where he had broken the news about Adam's engagement a few weeks ago, Adam took a seat as well as his father.
"Now, want to explain to me why in the name of God would you get involve with Miss Sophia Willis days before the wedding?"
"Is that what you heard?"
"No," replied his father firmly. "I heard that you forced her and that Mr. Willis came by and gave you a beating, that quite frankly, you deserved."
"I did not force anybody to do anything."
His father leaned back in his chair. "I know you didn't force anyone, I didn't raise you to be an animal. But why would you consummate before the wedding? Honestly, I am very surprised with Miss Sophia Willis, I thought she was raised better. I thought she was different from her sister, but I supposed I was wrong."
Adam could feel his whole body stiffen as he heard the last words. "Father, will you please allow me to explain?"
Mr. Lancaster rubs his eyes hesitantly then says, "Please."
Adam takes a deep breath then starts, "Five years ago, I met Miss Lucia Willis at a party. She was the prettiest girl I had seen. She was very provocative and sensual, and I found myself desiring her. So, she approached me and she invited me to her room. At the time, The Lancaster's were away, so I accepted."
His father watched him tacitly as if questioning his son's words.
"Listen father, I know I acted stupidly and I know I shouldn't have done it, but I promise you that I have respected Miss Sophia. She is nothing like her sister. She is caring and respectful. She's shy and intelligent. I promise you that I haven't touched her."
His father nods thoughtfully. Was he hearing a tone of attachment towards his fiancé? He smiles. "I believe you. Just don't make another stupid mistake. Tomorrow morning I will go speak to Mr. Lancaster. I will explain the situation and hopefully he could change."
"He already knows." His father looks at him surprised. "I went this morning. I explained myself to him and he even allowed me to speak to Miss Sophia."
Mr. Lancaster chuckles in amazement. "So there is going to be a wedding?"
Adam nods. "Yes, sir."
"Well then. There's no need to dwell on it now. Go with your mother to get curated. You look awful."
Ò Ò Ò
Adam's face healed exceptionally well. His mother's herbs worked wonders. Adam runs his fingers to the now disappearing scab on his lips, his eye was no longer swollen and had still a night or two to turn back to its original color, just in time for his wedding. Adam rubs his sore fingers together having finished the work for the rest of the week. He worked hard and diligently during the week, so he could focus his strength and mind on the wedding preparations. The wedding is in two days, he realizes. In two days, he will be able to hold Sophia in his arms freely and peacefully. He will be able to touch her and kiss her. He rubs his head trying to push those thoughts away. He needed to give her time to forget Daniel, and he needed time to make her fall in love with him.
He smiles as he ponders the idea of kissing those pink, perfect lips. Who would have thought, that Adam Lancaster himself, would have to work for a woman's love? He rubs his hands together getting the dust off of them, when he hears the shop's door being open. When he looks up, he freezes in place.
"Hello, I hope I am not interrupting anything," says Daniel.
Adam shakes his head. "No, not at all, please come in."
Daniel steps inside and walks calmly between the upholstery. "So, I expect you are looking forward to your wedding."
"I am."
Daniel nods and turns away as he says, "Don't you think it' a bit ironic how you are about to marry a woman you have never even noticed before? Let's be honest, she is no Lucia Willis. She is pretty, yes. But there's just that, pretty. She has no real beauty, and she surely is a quiet woman. She never speaks unless you speak to her first. She's polite but that tends to be boring at times, don't you agree?"
Adam paces slowly towards him. He knows what he is trying to do. He knows Daniel doesn't mean a word he is saying, so why else would he say them?
"I think you and I have a different views on Miss Willis."
Daniel laughs. "It's not just me, the whole town believes the same thing. To tell you the truth Adam, everyone was surprised to hear about the engagement. You, a man of world, with intelligence and the looks, is going to marry Miss Willis, a quiet, dull girl. It doesn't sound too promising."
"Why are you here?" asks Adam tired of listening to him talk.
"Good question. There's a rumor going around. I don't know if you have heard but I wanted to be the one to let you know just in case you haven't. It's a fairly new rumor, so I doubt you have."
"What is it?"
Daniel faces him and gives him a sympathetic gaze. "Word is Miss Willis has been seeing a man for quite a long time."
Adam's back tenses. "Really?"
"Yes. I was shocked myself after hearing it. After all, she is a nice girl. But she has been really good at hiding, her dark side, you can say. She has been sneaking off at nights to see this man. I'm telling you, this can only mean one thing."
Adam doesn't answer. He watches him attentively.
"She's no longer a virgin," continues Daniel.
Adam feels his face turn hot as he finishes. "That's the rumor?" he asked trying to keep his composure.
"I'm sorry."
Adam's hand closes into a fist beside him without him even realizing it. But Daniel saw it and mistook it as a sign of anger towards Sophia, which is just as he wanted.
"I know," Adam says at last.
Daniel blinks confused. "You know?"
"Yes. She told me herself the day of our engagement party. She told me everything."
Daniel looks around him taken aback. "She did?"
"Stop tormenting Sophia."
"I don't know what you mean..."
"You know exactly what I mean," he interrupts. "I know it was with you with whom she used to sneak out into the night. You were foolish and let that be the end of it."
"Who do you think you are?" Daniel sneers. "You don't deserve to marry Sophia. She loves me and always will, can't you see that?"
"You were the one who ruined everything. You were already married, and you didn't have the decency to leave her alone." He takes a step forward looking down at Daniel, who suddenly feels like he is shortening in height. "You took advantage of her once and I won't let you do it again. And if you go out there and dirty Miss Sophia's reputation by repeating this "rumor", you won't see the end of it. Stay away from our lives."
Daniel steps back and searches for a reply, but fails to find one. He watches Adam's chest puffed up and his shoulders tensed with anger. He knows better than to provoke him, so he leaves without another word.