Finding Him

8l Disinheriting

The last time Daniel Talbot summoned Dasa had been disastrous enough, the memory running through his mind for several days unending. He decided that evening, that he would not summon her again. Distance would prove to do them both good.

Yet, it was the memory of the evening he held her in his arms -the soft scent of her skin drifting into his nostrils, the warmth of her breath tickling his skin, the feel of her body pressed against his- that kept him awake at night and entertained during the day when he held a book before his unseeing eyes.

He tried to busy himself with things other than the memory Dasa's body held bound in his arms but with eyes confined to darkness and a nonexistent social life, it was all he could think about.

Even now, as his fingers found the thin page of the book and brushed it aside, he could almost feel the softness of her skin as his thumb trailed her jaw.

“Do tell me what has you so distracted, Daniel.”

He sat frozen for a second as he listened to his mother settle beside him.

“Once again, you are surprised at my presence. This is very much unlike you, you are never surprised.”

He smiled as she pressed her lips to his cheek, the dampness of her kiss familiar against his cheek.

“I was lost in a book.”

He felt her eyes on him, most likely beholding him in skepticism. Ignoring her stares, he reached out and captured her hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. He noticed, as his lips brushed against her knuckles, that she was tense.

Releasing her hand, he rose a brow. “What has you worried?”

He heard her the ruffling of fabric and guessed she was smoothening her skirt, before clearing her throat nervously. “Your father and your brother are due to return tomorrow.”

“This is good news, is it not, Mother?” He hadn't seen Julius, his brother, in over a year and his father had been away for over a month. While he didn't exactly have a relationship with either of them, a part of him missed them and desired to hear their voices.

“It is.” She shifted to him and placed a hand on his lap. He sat waiting patiently for her to continue, knowing fully well there was something she was hiding. He couldn't see her face, but he could sense the tension in the air. After a long while, she released a breath and retrieved her hand from his lap. Her skirt ruffled loudly as she rose to her feet. “I will have someone bring in a luncheon, you look hungry.”

He heard her familiar footsteps retreat from the room. A confused frown settling on his face, he doubted he would be able to stomach food in that moment. For whether his mother voiced it or not, his father and brother's return would bring something he knew his mother wouldn't like, along. He just didn't know what that thing would be. He especially hoped it would in no way affect him.

•~•~•

Josephine Talbot forced herself to remain calm and composed for many days since the disheartening letter, penned by her own husband, reached her.

Not only had the letter left her trembling in fear, it had left her despising his arrival, knowing with it would come the execution of the contents of the letter.

He sought to disinherit Daniel! The thought alone brought tears to her eyes as she stood trembling on the front porch, awaiting the arrival of the carriage that would bring home her husband and second son. He would disinherit Daniel, leaving him at the mercy of his younger brother. Daniel's lack of sight would get in the way of his ability to be productive, he had explained. His lack of sight and his lack of a social life. Julius would do a better job, he had seen first hand his younger son's abilities in Italy and they far outweighed the abilities of a disabled older son, the letter had explained. He was returning to Birmingham to change his will to that effect.