Marcus

Marcus


He stood at the window. His usual scowl was in place as he
watched the carriages and people hurry past his home. The day matched
his mood, grey and wretched. The skies were heavy with clouds that
threatened to spill at any moment. And they cast a pall over the
city.


And that suited him just fine. He enjoyed watching them pass,
scurrying on with their pathetic lives. Engaging in all sorts of
meaningless activities, and missing what is really important. He was
willing to wager that they didn't have half of what he did. Just look
at all he had!


"Yes, Marcus, that is right. Look at all you
have!"


Marcus turned at the sound of a voice. He looked at the tall
young man leaning carelessly against the mantle. The fire place was
dark despite the cold dreary day. Empty leaving the room uninviting.
Unfortunately that didn't deter his visitor.


"Bah!" Marcus' scowl deepened. "What do you know? I have only
the best. That mantle there." He waved toward his visitor. "Hand carved
Italian marble. That rug was made by some of the best weavers in the
Orient with the finest wool. My furniture is mahogany and teak. And
those books are rare and first editions!"


The man pushed from the mantle and went to one of the book
shelves. He chose a book, fingering the gold lettering on the leather
cover. He opened it to find that pages hadn't even been
cut.


"Ah, I can see you enjoyed this one
immensely."


"I have not had the opportunity to reading
them."


The man went down the shelf and picked out several more.
"Hmm, seems like there were several that didn't get
read."


"I am a very busy man!" Marcus scowled.


"Was a very busy man Marcus." His guest corrected with a
chuckle.


"Bah!" Marcus turned away from the man. He pushed the curtain
back and his scowl darkened. "And here she comes. The bane of my
existence."


"You must mean Sarah. A lovely young woman."


"Who are you?" Marcus asked testily without turning from the
window.


"John." He replaced the book he held and wandered over to the
desk.


"And why do you plaque me so."


"I think you know the answer to that." John's tone was
sober.


"Bah!"


"Now why, pray tell, would you consider that lovely woman a
bane?"


"She is always here. Hovering, coddling. Making things nice.
What makes her think I like things nice? Her and that child of
hers?"


"I haven't a clue." John picked up a paperweight and looked
at it. "And that child's name is."


"Molly. Bah! An exceptionally silly name for a child if you
ask me!"


"But obviously she did not."


"A most singular stubborn woman I've ever met. Won't accept
anyone's help. Bah!"


John noticed this last statement was said with a little less
acid than the others. "She's had it hard most of her
life."



"What do you know of it?" demanded Marcus.


"Quite a bit. I know everything about your
life."


"Everything? Bah!"


"I know you were the deceased aunt that left the modest
townhouse to Sarah after Kenneth died in France."


"I don't know what your talking about." Marcus' back
stiffened even more.



"No? And of course you'll deny being the one to provide the most
monthly stipend and making sure their small pantry was never
empty."



"Bah!"


"I see. Or the pretty dresses delivered each Christmas and
birthdays. And of course the toys for Molly."


"She's a child. A girl child at that. She shouldn't know the
harsh realities." Marcus' tone softened.


Marcus walked to one of the chairs that stood near the dark
fireplace and sat down with a weary sigh.


"Kenneth was my brother's only son. He loved to roam and
wander just like his father. He went into the army to feed that lust.
He had no business falling in love with Sarah. He had his own fortune,
as little as it was. And he didn't care if he made more to secure a
future for his wife and child. There was no way I could threaten to
with hold it. I had no legal right. He didn't care for all the
trappings of society."


"Just like Sarah." John said quietly.


"Sarah never had it before. You don't miss what you never
had. She got an education by visiting the parson's wife. Her father
gambled with little fortune he had and her mother spent the rest. They
cared nothing for the child they left behind. They disowned Sarah when
she married my nephew. Fools the both of them!"


"'An unworthy, pennyless fool.' I think was their exact
description of Kenneth." John said quietly.


"Bah! They didn't know the kind of woman their daughter had
become. Unselfish and kind." Marcus' voice softened.



Both watched as Sarah and Molly came into the study. Molly's cheeks
were tear stained but she held a cookie in one hand.


"You sit here Molly while Mama gets a fire going. Mrs.
Pennyworth is all sixes and sevens today." Sarah knelt before the
fireplace.


Molly sat in the chair and looked at Marcus. She gave him
half a smile.


"She can see us?" Marcus asked.


"Of course." John smiled.


"And hear us?"


"Yes. All children can see angels." John chuckled. He gave
Molly a wink.


"An angel?" Marcus asked surprised.


"Of course." John laid a hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Did you seriously think all your good deeds went unnoticed. Especially
leaving them everything in your will."


"Well I did it because it was the right thing to do, nothing
more!"


"Exactly." John nodded.


Marcus reached into him pocket and withdrew a wrapped candy
and held it out to Molly. The small girl leaned forward and took it,
whispering her thanks. She smiled.


"Ah so you did lose it." Marcus tapped his own front
tooth.


Molly nodded grinning. Marcus stood and slipped a hand into
his pocket and withdrew a coin. Molly's eyes widened as she looked at
it. Marcus laid it in the palm of her hand and curled her chubby
fingers around it.


"It's our secret Moppet. Tell Mama a fairy bought your
tooth." Marcus winked.


John was taken a back when as Marcus laughed as Molly tried
to return the wink. "Come Marcus we have a bit of work to do before you
start your new life."


Marcus walked with John to the door. He stopped and turned
back to watch Sarah and Molly as the little one showed her mother the
coin.


"A fairy gave this to you. Why you are such a lucky little
moppet!"


Molly looked over her mother's shoulder to Marcus and waved
good bye. Marcus waved sadly in return. He turned back to John and
walked with the young man out of the study. The last sound they heard
was Molly's laughter.