47 Ulterior motives
Lady Annalise’s face turned red in anger. She looked as if she was going to burst out any second, and she did while gritting her teeth,
“How dare you disrespect me when I am right here?!”
The smile on Vincent’s lips lowered, and he frowned, “My apologies, mother, did I get it wrong?”
“The proposal is for you, Vincent. Why would Annalise bring another woman for me when she’s my wife to fulfil the role?” Eduard Moriarty’s words were stern, and he scowled at his son.
Vincent shrugged, “People have the habit of doing strange things, how would I know?” He politely asked his father and added, “Also, I don’t remember asking mother to find me a bride.”
Annalise tightly pursed her lips, glaring at her stepson. Trying to refrain herself from being ruffled by his words, she explained,
“You have reached the age where it is time that you find a wife and get married. As one of the old vampire families and our tradition, it is the parents who find brides or grooms for their children,” the woman’s thin eyebrows slightly rose as she continued to speak, while Vincent stared at her, “The Hooke family is as old as our family, and Marques Hooke being who holds such high position, it will be a right match. He has only one daughter, and last summer I had the opportunity to meet her. She’s a well behaved girl, and would suit your tastes as well as ours.”
A sigh escaped from Vincent’s lips, and he said,
“What a waste of breath. Tell me mother, as I am curious. What do you think is my taste?”
“Well behaved, respects and knows the values of the Moriarty family, and is of our status. With excellent manners,” Lady Annalise replied without breaking eye contact with him.
“And you think that is what I am looking for in my woman?” Vincent looked amused.
“That is what we need, than you bring some dirt like that governess,” Lady Annalise’s eyes flared. “You picked up a governess of low status for Allie, who knows what you will pick next time. It is only right that we help you with it.”
“Thank you, but no thank you,” came the swift words from Vincent, and he turned to look at his father. “When the time is right, I will find the woman I want. And I am sure, mother, that you do not know what I want from my woman.”
“Alright, Vincent,” Eduard Moriarty nodded without forcing his son on it.
It was because it wasn’t Eduard Moriarty who had tried to find a bride for Vincent, but his wife Annalise urged him to call Vincent and speak on the matter.
“No, it isn’t okay!” responded Lady Annalise, and she stood up from the plush couch and walked to where her husband stood.
Lady Annalise had finally found a solution to solve all the problems that Vincent caused. To have him marry, send him far away from her, and avoid all the unnecessary headaches he had been giving her.
She said, “Eduard I have already given my word to Mrs. Hooke that Vincent would take their daughter Rossetta out tomorrow. What would they or anyone think if word was to get out that we weren’t people who kept our word?”
“Maybe it will be a good lesson for you, mother. Next time you will remember to check with the person before promising something,” Vincent calmly replied, who continued to sit in his seat with a relaxed expression on his face.
“I am your mother! I have the right to participate in family matters like this,” it wasn’t Lady Annalise’s fault that Vincent had never accepted her as his mother and continued to be difficult with her.
“Good, then I hope you don’t mind delivering a letter on how I am busy and can’t take the girl out,” Vincent said with a smiling face, and Lady Annalise turned to look at her husband for help.
“Vincent,” Eduard Moriarty started, with a look of sternness. “You might not like it, but Annalise is your mother, and she has your best interests in her heart. Clear your day tomorrow and take Miss Hooke out with you.”
Eduard Moriarty loved all his children dearly and equally. Though his first two born children were spoiled with any and everything, he expected them to show respect to him and also to their stepmother.
Vincent loved his father and if there was someone whom he respected it was his father. After his biological mother’s death, the family he once knew turned even smaller, and the new addition hadn’t made much difference until recently. He respected the old man, and Annalise knew it, who took advantage of it when she could… his eyes fell on Lady Annalise.
It wasn’t as if he wasn’t unaware of Annalise’s hidden agenda of pushing him towards marriage. But he had his way of handling such things that would stop the woman from trying something like this again.
“If that is what you want, father,” Vincent bowed, and one corner of his lips pulled up. Eduard Moriarty looked pleased by his son’s words, and so did Lady Annalise.
Eduard Moriarty placed his hand on Vincent’s back and said, “I knew you would never disappoint me.”
Lady Annalise subtly rolled her eyes because her husband was blind not to see the number of times Vincent had gone against his words. Her husband then turned to look at her and said,
“Anna, I hope that next time something like this won’t happen. Before you give your word, you will discuss beforehand, or I won’t be able to persuade Vincent,” Eduard had the same stern look in his eyes, and Lady Annalise quickly nodded in agreement.
“I will be sure to do that next time,” Lady Annalise smiled like a good wife.
Eduard Moriarty looked at both his son and his wife, as he knew the surfacing friction between these two but not the depth of it.
Lady Annalise then turned to look at her husband and said, “I have the details of where Miss Hooke is staying and you can pick her up from there.” She turned to look at Vincent and said, “I will hand the details to Alfie and hand it to you.”
“How kind of you, mother. What would I do without you?” Came the sickeningly sweet words from Vincent, which made it evident that the words didn’t come from his heart.
“I am getting late to leave to attend the evening soiree in Mrs. Reid’s mansion,” Lady Annalise leaned towards her husband, kissing his cheek before leaving the room.
With the father and son left alone in the room, Vincent informed his father, “I found the man who tried to cause trouble.”
Senior Mr. Moriarty turned to Vincent, his lips turning into a frown. He asked, “Where is he?”
“In the grave,” came the prompt reply and Eduard Moriarty nodded.
“It is good that you took care of it. You did well,” Eduard Moriarty remembered and inquired, “What happened to Mr. Morris?”
Vincent tilted his head, “He tried to do something and I had to set him straight. I think it would be advisable for him to get a lot of rest.”