"You wish to know if my warning is an empty threat, is that it?" Her nostrils were flaring. "You will be disowned just as I promised."
"I believe that you are serious, in moments of anger, to carry through with your threats. Will you forget I am your only son?"
"If you go to the Lawrence girl, I have no son."
"We have said all there is to say." Austin stood to leave, and turned back as he reached the doorway. "I will pack my things immediately."
"Austin, You may want to reconsider your decision after I tell you what you are now forcing me to say."
"I'm not interested in any further discussion."
"Fine, then listen and you will understand all there is to know about the girl you choose to love and why I forbid it."
"I know all I want to know, and I have full understanding of your rejection to her social status."
"Oh, no." she snorted a giggle. "It is much more horrid than you know." Her eyes glazed over. "Your Hayley Lawrence is not who you think she is."
"What are you talking about?"
Mrs. Sommers caught sight of the housekeeper dusting a table in the foyer. She walked over to Austin and whispered in his ear.
Austin quickly pulled away. "That is impossible. You are creating lies, so I will marry a woman of your choice."
"I would not lie to you about such a thing." Austin turned away.
"Surely you are no longer planning to leave, when I can produce proof that what I speak is the truth."
He left the room with his head down and shaking in disbelief.
_ _
A week later at the Lawrence estate: "I had a visitor this week at the dock." Mr. Lawrence leaned back from his empty dinner plate and reached for his pipe. With his eyes fixed on Hayley, he smiled largely as he spoke again. "You may never guess who it was."
"I know of no one who would be at the dock, Father."
"You might say it is not a place he usually frequents."
"The only man I care to know about is Austin."
"Yes." Mr. Lawrence tried to keep a laugh from escaping his throat, as he watched the nonchalant look on Hayley's face turn to excitement.
"It was Austin? What was he doing there?"