He had always known that Owen and he had very different personalities, but still he hadn't expected this. It made Merlin feel that he must have been a pretty poor father.
Owen had taken them into the Victorian era. Merlin had been prepared for new outfits and a change in the house. However Owen's ideas were more far reaching than this. He decided that the River family had spent enough time working the land and were now to give their energies to different pursuits. No more fishing, growing crops or for the men keeping in top physical fitness. Now it was their mind they were to be exercising. He wanted them learning music, writing and painting.
To Merlin the River family had always had a close affinity with the land, but if this was all to be forgotten, wouldn't they lose their identity?
Merlin had taken consolation in the thought of the grandchildren he would be soon bouncing on his knee, but here again he was found to be mistaken. On asking Owen about wedding preparations he met a blank look.
Owen replied "I am not getting married yet, there is too much to do. A few years down the line will be soon enough. I need to learn to be a leader and settle into my new job. How could I learn to be a husband at the same time?"
Merlin had been eager to marry Freya straight away, he had felt the task of leadership to be daunting and to have a partner in life to help him had been very comforting. Self confident Owen felt no such need.
It made Merlin wonder if Owen intended on having kids, Merlin felt he must do one day, but was too afraid to ask in case the answer wasn't what he wanted to hear.
Martha seemed content to wait. Owen had asked her to grow her hair, he wanted her to be able to have a proper Victorian hairstyle when they married.
Owen had decided to get a job in politics and now worked at a lowly position at the local town hall.
Owen also felt that as a foremost family in Riverview he wanted them to forge alliances with other rich families. He was schooling his two sisters to be ready to marry into rich families.
Merlin was watching on in disbelief, wondering if he should say anything and if it would help if he did. He felt the River family were in for a rocky ride and he wondered if they could weather the storm.
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