The Fall of Prejudice

Frank was so shocked by the news of Mr. Toro’s engagement that Mr. Way had to lead him to an empty bench on the nearby terrace outside to rest. Mr. Way sat close enough to Frank to hold him upright and waited for Frank to speak.

“You must be wrong, sir,” Frank looked up to Mr. Way, his eyes searching for some hint that this was all a cruel joke that Mr. Way thought would be funny, “Why has he been giving my brother so much attention if he has already proposed to another?”

“Raymond never proposed to the girl,” Mr. Way’s answers were only making Frank more confused, “it is an engagement that has been in place since their infancy. She is a distant cousin who Raymond has only met a handful of times.”

“You have not answered my initial question, why has he been over almost every day to see my brother if there is no way they can marry?” Frank’s shock was starting to wear off.

“I have known Raymond for many years now and he has always been very aware of his engagement and so has stayed away from those who would have otherwise been a good match,” Mr. Way looked off into the distance as he continued his story, “but James seems to be different. I believe Toro wishes he could forget about the engagement and make your brother an offer. This is why he comes so often, he pretends that he is courting your brother because it is what he truly wants but cannot have.”

Frank stayed quiet, willing Mr. Way to continue.

“This is why I have accompanied Raymond when he comes to the Iero Lodge. I have tried and failed to break him from his infatuation with your brother, for both parties sake, and so I must instead watch him to make sure he does not make the situation any worse.”

Frank was becoming slightly angry at the situation. “What did you expect to happen, Mr. Way? Did you think that one day, Mr. Toro would come home with a wife and James would not notice?!”

Mr. Way sighed and leaned back from Frank slightly. “We are leaving tomorrow. He is to come and stay with me at my home in Longbourn and will most likely never return here. I fear that if he were to come back to see James, all would be lost and we would be in this position yet again.”

“Does James know he is leaving, that this is their last night together?” Frank thought of his brother just inside the door and how his heart would soon be broken.

“No, I have helped Raymond compose a letter that will be sent in the morning. I believe that this may be harsh but it shall provide the cleanest break for both of them. We would have left sooner if it hadn't been for this damn ball.”

Frank could no longer sit still. He stood abruptly before pacing around the terrace. It was not long before he made his excuses to a surprised looking Mr. Way and went back into the home to stand next to Bob with a slightly petrified look his face for the remainder of the night.

~***~

Back in their shared bedroom, Frank listened to James go on about a story Mr. Toro had told him earlier. The conversation soon shifted to the fact that James thought Toro was just the sort of man everyone should aspire to be and how lucky he felt.

Frank sat silently on his side of the room and listened. He could not stop thinking about how his brother only had a few hours left until his world would shatter.

~***~

Frank did not sleep well that night, he woke early that morning and snuck out of the room after dressing so that he would not wake his brother.

He sat in the parlor room waiting for the letter to arrive. His plan was to intercept it so that he would give it to James away from the prying eyes of their mother. No one needed to see what this letter would do to James.

He heard a horse approach the house and so he made his way to the door to receive the letter. When he opened the door, he was shocked to see Mr. Way dismounting the horse and making his way to Frank.

Way smiled warmly at Frank but the sentiment was not returned. Frank could hardly bring himself to smile at the man who had let Mr. Toro’s game go on for so long.

“Mr. Iero,” Way began when he came close enough, “You did not allow me to finish my explanation last night and so would you accompany me on a walk?”

Frank was curious what else Mr. Way could have to say to him so he agreed and they began to make their way in the direction of town. Frank assumed that Mr. Way would give him the letter when they returned to the lodge.

It was not long before they were at the crossing in stream where Frank almost fell in. Mr. Way sat on one of the larger rocks and motioned for Frank to do the same.

“I must apologize, Mr. Iero, because there was one fact I told you last night that was not the truth.”