Ted and Robert had remained close over the years, especially after the passing of Marmaduke. Meeting one night at one of London's gentleman's clubs, Robert shares a secret with his friend that has been troubling him for some time.
"What do you mean the money's gone?" Ted asks, somewhat startled as he flicks the ash from his cigar into an ashtray on the table between the two leather armchairs in the corner by the fire - there's no chance of them being overheard here and the last thing Robert wants is for anyone to be privy to this somewhat delicate conversation.
"I asked Murray just as much," replies the Earl. "Apparently, the venture I invested most of Cora's money has failed and it's gone. Simple as that."
"Good God," Ted replies. "Does she know."
Robert shakes his head. "I suspect that she knows something has been bothering me, though I can't bring myself to tell her until I have a solution to the problem."
Ted grows pensive for a moment, staring into the roaring flames of the fire as he tries to think of any ideas. Suddenly, it dawns on him - he knows that it would be asking a lot, but they could both benefit from it and surely it was a risk worth taking. "I need an heir," he says. "The boy's useless, all he cares about is poetry and politics. I need an heir and you need money... think about it."
"I'm not following, old chap."
"My son and your daughter... married."
Robert's eyes widen. "Sybil and Tom? Don't be absurd," he says, taking a sip of his brandy. "Do you really think it could work?"
Ted shrugs. "It might do. I'm not suggesting that we just tell them that they have to marry, that's a little bit draconian, but we try to get them to spend as much time as they can together and suggest it to them at the end of the summer."
Robert sighs. "I don't know."
"Well at least just think about it," Ted replies. "All three daughters married in a single summer... that's almost unheard of."
"Yes, and that's what worries me," says Robert. "Sybil's headstrong at the best of times and I can't see her agreeing. I have no doubt your boy's the same if you say his passion is politics."
Ted smirks. "Then they're already a good match," he says, chinking his glass against Robert's. In formulating this plan, neither man knows just how many hearts they will be breaking and the lives they will destroy...
But maybe, just maybe, it could be the start of a very unconventional love story.
--from chapter 1 of āSomething There That Wasnāt There Beforeā
by thebarefootflapper
60 Days of Bransons-Fanfic Moments
Day 48
