Hold Fast To Your Dreams – Episode 43
Hold Fast To Your Dreams
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- 1. Hold Fast To Your Dreams – Episode 43
Robert Bracken stared into the shamble of splintered wood, and then to the frameless painting.
“What the devil?”
“Lord Bracken, please let me explain,” Lady Farrington said. “I take full responsibility for this. I had been convinced that . . .”
She stopped, overcome with her folly and the prospect of explaining it.
“I am most awfully sorry.”
“You’d better tell me what this is about,” he said in measured tones.
The evening sun filled the room, lighting up the painting that had been set on to the mantel after Lady Farrington, Hugh and Malaika departed.
Robert had been sitting in shocked silence as he stared at it. Eleanor moved closer to him on the settee, reaching for his hand.
“It is the most extraordinary story. Do you believe it’s true, Robert?”
He exhaled slowly.
“There’s no way of knowing for certain what happened. But it’s more than possible that my father cheated Hugh Farrington.”
“Imagine if there really are diamonds hidden somewhere!”
He shrugged.
“More likely my father gambled them away.”
His gaze dropped to the floor.
“Robert, please look at me. I can’t bear it when you’re distant.”
“Today I found out that my father was almost certainly a cheat and a thief, Eleanor! The fact is, I didn’t know him. He didn’t have much time for me – he was always involved in some business scheme.
“Then he went off to Africa. When he came back, he behaved strangely – buoyed up one minute, irritated the next. I don’t think Mother knew where she was with him. I certainly didn’t. But I never thought –” His voice fell.
“What?”
“That I’d be forced to feel truly ashamed of him.”
“Oh, Robert.” She reached to him. “Whatever your father did, he must have done good things in his life, too, otherwise your mother wouldn’t have married him.
“Perhaps he was just weak. He wanted to make good and couldn’t, and became desperate. It doesn’t excuse what he did – if he did it – but underneath he must have cared about your well-being.
“And you, Robert, have come through difficult times and you’ve succeeded. You have much to feel proud of in yourself.”
“What have I ever done?”
“For one thing, you’ve made a success of your work.”
“I wouldn’t have the job if it weren’t for you and your father.”
“It doesn’t matter how you got the job. You’ve done well in it. More importantly, you’re a good, kind, honest man. And when you’re not full of worry, you’re also tremendous fun!”
He grunted.
“There’s something else, Robert Bracken,” she said tenderly. “I love you.”
She stroked his hair out of his eyes.
“So, here we are,” she continued, “with this house, handed to us on a platter. I know I’ve complained about being here, but you know I’ve always been stubborn.”
“I can understand your feelings,” he said disconsolately. “You were landed with something you never wanted.”
“But I couldn’t see the nose in front of my face until now. I think your mother knew we’d fall in love with Orchard End, and that’s why she made that stipulation in her will – to ensure we stayed here long enough for it to happen.
“Robert, could we make a fresh start here? Sell the London house and make this our very own home?”
He stared at her in disbelief and she laughed.
“That’s the way you looked when you first saw me with my hair bobbed!”
He smiled.
“You’ve always been a bundle of surprises.”
“Let me tell you what I’ve been discussing with Jenny, and then you must talk to Ben. We don’t have much time – there’s so much to do and I must show you these fabric samples!”