He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Nineteen - My Destiny

"Brother!" Nellie cried out as she burst into her brother's second bedroom with as much force as she could muster. The door did not slam open, it was made of quality oak, far too heavy for a young woman to push with such ease as might require otherwise. However, Nellie was not one to require such an entrance when she alone could provide the necessary drama. Cornelius did not look up from his desk, which was covered with small metal parts, thin tools and odd contraptions.

Although they were mere middle-class merchants, the Lincoln-Kay's had great wealth that rivalled many noble class families. Edward Lincoln-Kay was not afraid to show off his wealth and had designed a large house as if to prove this. It was not a sprawling mansion, as many noble houses were, for Mr Lincoln-Kay was also a practical man, but it did have two wings with twin double-conjoined bedrooms in each. The east wing held the Master Bedroom conjoined to a Second Bedroom, which in a noble house might belong to the wife, but in their home had become the nursery at first and later a sewing room for Mrs Lincoln-Kay. The west wing had duplicate versions of these rooms, the main bedroom intended for the eldest son and his future bride and the second room for their little children.

And so when he was old enough, Cornelius moved in to the main bedroom and turned the second bedroom into his library and workroom. Eventually, Mr Lincoln-Kay had conceded to the fact that no matter how intelligent his eldest son was, he just could not grasp the concept of business, unlike his younger brother and the position of heir had fallen to the second son. His beloved wife had convinced him not to oust her much loved first born from his quarters, for surely such a double blow would be too cruel and thus Cornelius retained use of the West Wing. In truth, Cornelius probably would not have fought back either way, being uninterested in being the heir, so long as he was also able to relocate his workshop.

"Brother, brother, brother!" Nellie began to chant. She had found that this tactic worked best when wishing to gain the attention of her brother when he was deeply focused in his hobby.

Eventually, Cornelius' head jolted upwards, he rapidly blinked as he refocused upon the noises that had disturbed him, before turning to gaze upon his sister. Nellie Lincoln-Kay was quite the beauty, just like their mother. Her hair fell in soft, brown ringlets which when they caught the light seemed spun with gold. Her small, oval face was adorned with pert, rose coloured lips and a delicate nose. Her eyes were large and bright, framed with long lashes and were a dark silver, unlike his pale grey ones. She also, if one looked close enough, had a small, second pupil, conjoined to the first, in her left eye. Cornelius liked this feature of his sister best as it was unique and different, though she despised it.

Nellie's beauty could have sank a thousand ships alone, were they not wrecked before hand by her particularly stormy temperament and her wicked tongue.

"Is everything alright, Nellie," Cornelius asked, putting an end to the girl's annoying chant.

"Have you heard from Master Westcott yet?" Nellie asked, excitedly. Cornelius blinked and frowned as he attempted to place the name. A vivid image of a tall, willowy handsome man flashed through his mind and he had to turn away from his sister as heat boldly rose in his cheeks.

"Now why would you expect that the young master might contact the useless me?" He asked, curiously, staring at the few assembled cogs and pins before him as if they were more interesting at that moment. "Surely he would contact brother or father if he wished to create a relationship with this family."

Nellie huffed and ungracefully plonked herself down upon the small, hard couch nearby. "I've already asked if daddy or Amadeus have heard from him, but they say they have not." Their father had been particularly pleased that they had managed to speak amicably with the young master at the soirée, as he was rumoured to be quite slippery to pin down at such events. He was not yet aware that this was actually due to his eldest son and not his heir and lovely daughter.

Feeling the heat recede, Cornelius turned to look at his sister. "Why are you so interested?" Their family were merchants, nobles only sought them for business purposes.

"I feel that we should be married," Nellie stated, matter of factly. Cornelius choked on a sudden in take of air and clutched his chest. Why did his heart clench when he heard those words? He dismissed this discomfort and Nellie continued; "as soon as I saw him, I felt it was my destiny to be wed to that man."

"B-but sister," Cornelius stuttered, should he really still be so stunned by his thoughtless sister's bluntness? He dearly loved her, despite her flaws, but really her mind was alien to him. "Master Westcott, although just the third son of his family, is still a noble and even I have heard that he is most favoured by his family. You know I think you beautiful and a wonderful future wife, but we are but merchants. Our chances of wedding noble sons and daughters is slim."

"It's destiny, I tell you!" Nellie stated loudly as if this made it true. "You'll see! He will fall madly in love with me and we'll marry and have five beautiful children!" She left the room as abruptly as she came in. She did not shut the door.

****

"It's what?" Stunned laughter followed these questioning words.

"Destiny," Cornelius confirmed as his friend laughed heartily. "Oh George, what am I to do? How do I convince her not to look so beyond our place and bring her sight back down from the heavens?" The man simply continued laughing, clutching his sides.

Cornelius had met George a few years prior, when the man had entered the clock smiths shop seeking for someone to fix his mother's music box. It was quite the ornate and large piece, but the clock smith could not get the curiosity to play. A much younger Cornelius had appeared from the back room and had immediately been drawn to the music box, lovingly examining it for all it was worth. His nimble fingers and sharp eyes had quickly discovered the problem and discussed with the clock smith how they might fix it. Sure enough, when George had returned, the music box was almost as good as new. The clock smith had placed all praise upon a blushing Cornelius and George, who was just a couple of years senior, had become quite taken with the young man. The two had developed a tentative friendship. Cornelius would be the first to admit that he didn't know much about George, only that he was a noble man's second son, thus not the heir to title or land and that he was unwed. But George never delved too much into his own circumstances and both found this arrangement satisfactory.

George knew Cornelius had a sister, he did not know her name and he did not know the name of the young man she had set her sights on, but he already knew that Cornelius' station was below his own. Admittedly, when Cornelius came to complain about his sister, his curiosity had been piqued. But he did not ask beyond what Cornelius wished to tell him.

"Oh right," Cornelius said, suddenly. "That blend you asked for arrived. I told my brother I would bring it too you." He passed the expensive import to the man, who thanked him, jovially. "I don't know how you can drink such stuff."

"Oh, you did not like it?" The other man asked.

"No, it was way too sweet," Cornelius complained.

George laughed. "I guess it is a bit of an acquired taste. But it's not for me, anyhow."

"Oh?" Cornelius could not help but question.

"It's a gift for my sister-in-law," he allowed. "She's quite taken with it."

"Well, each to their own," Cornelius said.

They chatted about little things for a while longer before they prepared to leave the gentleman's club that George was a member of. "Good luck with the problem of your sister," he offered in parting. Cornelius huffed. He was definitely going to need it.