had to save them, however much he had to humiliate himself to do so.
With an effort, because it went against every grain in his body, he said,
“Please help me, my Lord. I am desperate, absolutely desperate. If you refuse, I can think of no one I could possibly turn to.”
His voice seemed to ring out and he knew that it came from the very depth of his being.
He had to save his own people, the people who had served his father and mother, as their parents had served his grandparents.
He had to save The Castle, the land and eventually himself.
Lord Frazer did not answer.
He merely walked across to his desk and, opening a drawer, took out a map.
He put it down on the carpet in front of the Earl and he saw with some surprise that it was a large and comprehensive map that covered the two estates.
Both his own, which was much larger and, on the right-hand side, Watton Hall, with the two thousand acres that surrounded it were featured.
The Earl had never seen this map before and he thought with surprise that Lord Frazer must have had it drawn recently. He was sure of that when he saw that it included cottages which had been built just before he went to India.
“I had this done a little while ago,” Lord Frazer said, “because I thought that it would be interesting to see the comparison between our two estates. As you will see, Duncans Wood separates us and remains, of course, the bone of contention it has always been.”
“That is why I have offered it to you,” the Earl answered, “because I have nothing else that is not entailed on the son I shall never be able to afford.”
He spoke bitterly.
At the same time he despised himself for pleading with Lord Frazer.
He was obviously delighted that for the first time since he had lived at Watton Hall he had in his power a neighbour whose father had proved so stubborn and difficult.
Once again the Earl thought of how the Viceroy would have handled this situation.
He knew that he would have used his charm and, at the same time, without losing his dignity, his friendliness.
The Earl then said,
“Perhaps, my Lord, we can do something together. Not only in this emergency but in the future.”
“That is exactly what I was thinking,” Lord Frazer replied, “and what I have in mind is something that I actually thought of some years ago.”
“What is that?” the Earl enquired.
“It was that our two estates, which we know cover all of eight thousand acres, should be joined.”
“Joined,” the Earl repeated.
He thought that he was speaking rather stupidly.
His father would no more have joined his land with that of Lord Frazer than fly over the moon. He disliked the man and was determined that he should not get his way over Duncans Wood.
Nevertheless Duncans Wood would most undoubtedly feed the pensioners and save the children from starving.
He was therefore prepared to give it to Lord Frazer without bothering about it again.
“Now, what I will do,” Lord Frazer said slowly, speaking as if he must emphasise every word, “is to give you fifty thousand pounds so that you can start to clean up the mess your uncle has left behind.”
The Earl stiffened in astonishment and then he gasped.
He thought at first that he had not heard right what Lord Frazer had just said to him.
His Lordship went on,
“When that is spent, and you will find that you need every penny of it, there will be the same amount to follow when you ask for it.”
“I cannot begin – ” the Earl began.
Lord Frazer then held up his hand.
“My gift,” he said, “is offered with one condition. That you marry my daughter.”
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