by Lucy Langton
The funeral ceremony sped much faster than Isabel had hoped. By early noon, the ceremony was nearly over. Isabel greeted and welcomed the sympathisers that had made it to the estate. They were all given food and drinks. She noted the presence of some powerful Dukes and Earls.
The Archbishop had also been in attendance but had left early with regard to some duties. If only the love and sympathy shown here were enough to bring back her parents, maybe then she would have been more appreciative.
Isabel glanced around in search of her brother, but he was nowhere to be found. She called on some of the guards and maids to help secretly search for her brother but was later told that he had left in the company of his friends some moments ago.
Isabel was sure it had not taken long for him to leave once the ceremony had ended. George had not even been on time. The Bishop had already begun the service when he had snuck inside.
Calming her growing rage, she managed a smile or two for the few guests that were still present. Soon the rain began to fall in light showers, while the rest of the visitors took their leave. It was not long before a heavy downpour came crashing down and the sound of raindrops on the roofs seeped into corners of the house.
Aunt Mariam came to speak to her.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“I am fine; I only need some time to rest and think. Thank you, Aunt Mariam, for your help in planning everything and taking care of the house until now. Only the heavens know what would have happened had you not been around to oversee the affairs,” Isabel replied.
“You need not thank me, My Lady. Had your mother still been alive, none of these would be necessary. Moreover, you did a lot too, yourself. I noticed you managed to keep a smiling face on, even when you seemed tired and weary,” Aunt Mariam commented.
“You noticed?” she asked, trying to keep her voice down. “If you noticed, surely others might have too.”
Aunt Mariam patted her shoulder in reassurance.
“Don’t worry My Lady; it is only the years I have spent with you that allows me to see your uneasiness. Fear not, you were amazing in hiding your displeasure,” Aunt Mariam consoled.
“By the way, I haven’t seen the young master in quite some time. Even for the funeral, he managed to come late.”
“I haven’t seen him since he left. And it bothers me. How do we help him if he is presently in an unfavourable situation?” Isabel asked, more angry than worried.
“The young master has his friends, and they seem to have his interests at heart too. I am sure they wouldn’t let anything wrong befall him in their presence!”
Aunt Mariam watched as Isabel’s face gained some colour, and her heart gladdened.
Even as she had said those words, she prayed within her heart that George be safe. His recent disappearing acts had not only caused worry for her but also maids and servants as well.
Earlier that day, Lord William Gregory watched as the foolish young man left hurriedly with his friends. The young man had just lost half of his estate, but still he refused to give up. It was morning already, and he needed to have a bath and a change of clothes. Not that he cared for his physical appearance. His hair had grown past its usual boundary, and the hair on his face had not seen a razor for several days.
Fredrick changed the mug of ale before the Baron and silently made his way back to his stand. William took the mug and drank a grateful gulp. It felt good to drink after acquiring more property. Hopefully, the stupid lad would see some sense and never gamble again.
He vaguely remembered he had an event that he was required by status to attend. A beloved family of the community had just lost both parents in a shipwreck and they were having a funeral service. William frowned as he thought of the insincere love and sympathy the children would be receiving.
He hated death. He hated the fact that there was nothing one could do concerning the inevitable finality that only death could bring. No amount of trying, or hiding, or even riches could stay the hand of death. A thought crossed his mind and no sooner had it appeared than he flung it aside, slamming his fists on the table in the process.
William bowed his head in resignation. Death was close to him, pushing, breathing, so close that he could almost feel its cold embrace.
It had not taken long to him, but soon the stupid lad was back. However, this time, without any of his much more reasonable friends. The Baron stared at him long and hard. He stood there, before his table, panting and wet. No doubt the lad had entered into the rain and ran as fast as he could just to return in time.
“What do you want kid? I have already told you to bring me the deed to your house. So what are you doing here?” the Baron demanded.
The young man stood there, staring at the Baron. It was clear that he was obviously intimidated, but there was a strong sense of determination in his defiant posture. With shaky hands, he unhooked the pouch he carried and handed the Baron the deeds to his family’s estate.
“I challenge you one more time. This time, if I win, I get all my family’s estate back as well as the property of my other friends that they lost to you,” the young man said.
The Baron closed his eyes and rubbed his beard as he considered the young man’s request. It seemed the young lad had yet to learn anything about how harsh life could be. And the fact that he was doing all of this just days after his parents had died infuriated him. It was clear that his other friends had learnt the bitter truth of losing, but this spoilt brat was so pampered he did not realise the magnitude of what he was about to do.
The Baron closed his eyes to try to control his rage. There was only one way to discipline young children that had no idea of how cruel the world might be.
When the Baron raised his head, he had a smile on his face.
“If you do win, I promise to give you all of your property as well as those of your friends. But, on one condition.”
He paused to see if the impact of his words would show on the lad’s face. The boy was indeed struggling to keep his composure. His hands shook now and then; his face looked even sweatier than when he came into the tavern drenched in rain.
“On the condition that, since it would cost me all of my earnings if I lose, then, if I win, apart from taking the rest of your property contained in this deed, you lose the rights to all your titles. Do you accept?”
The demand was unreasonable. The stakes were too high. The Baron secretly prayed that the boy would sense the intensity of this wager and beg rather than gamble. There was no need for him to be a hero. All he had to do was beg. If only he would simply beg.
Contrary to the Baron’s hopes, the lad looked even more determined, and once he saw the look in the boy’s eyes, he knew he had been wrong from the beginning; this lad would need to be taught about the evils in the world.
Bold and determined, the young man extended his arm in agreement. The Baron simply gave a mocking laugh and joined him in the agreement. Then he signalled to the barkeeper to bring two mugs of ale.
Once the ale was present, he asked the barkeeper, “Fredrick my good man, did you by any chance listen to the conversation between me and this young man here?”
“Yes, My Lord,” he answered.
“And can you once again bear witness to this deal should any matter arise to its validity?” the Baron asked again.
“Yes, My Lord,” the barkeeper answered again.
“Good. Thank you Fredrick, that will be all.” Turning to the young lad he said, “Let us begin!”
Chapter 3
Isabel sat listening to her brother recount the absurd tale of how he had lost the family not only their property but also their dignity and honour. It took all of her willpower not to lash out at her brother who for all the wrong reasons looked more despicable than ever.
One of the manservants had found him drunk and drenched by the rain, wandering close to the gate and had helped him into the estate. They had alerted Aunt Mariam who had been with Isabel at the time. Once they had him brought in
to the house and close to a fire, he had begun apologizing.
Further enquiry had caused him to divulge how he had begun spending some of the money got from the inheritance with his friends. They had only been drinking at first when one of them had made a wager with the Baron and lost.
George, in all his childish benevolence, had insisted on reclaiming his friend’s property and had ended up losing all the money he had on him. Then trying to win the money back, he wagered on assets and property. In the end, he had lost everything, trying to win back something. Now, the Baron could be on their neck anytime soon to demand his right to claim his winnings.
The first thing Isabel had done once she heard he had lost the house was to land a right-handed slap on her brother’s cheek. But once she heard everything, especially the fact that the Baron could arrive anytime to chase them out, she gave up on her brother’s salvation.
To her, he was only a little bit away from being dead to her. Isabel knew her brother was in no position to do anything more to save the family. She knew she had no way of trusting him with anything from then on.
Sad and dejected, she ran to her room and cried herself to bed.
A few hours later, she woke up with a mild headache, and all the events of the past two days flooded her mind. Her hands shook as she remembered her mother, Catherine, and all the different times her mother had taken care of situations she thought were too difficult.
Isabel wiped the tears that had been threatening to fall. She looked herself up in the mirror. Her eyes were a bit swollen and sore from all her crying. She loved her brother so much, but his foolishness had cost the family the only thing their parents had left them.
Isabel thought long and hard. With their parents gone, the inheritance they left behind was all they had. Letting their inheritance fall into the hands of that notorious Baron was the worst thing that could have happened at this moment.
Slowly but surely, Isabel realised that if anyone were to change the fate of the family, it would be her. Right now, her brother was of no use, and this was not a matter that Aunt Mariam could intercede on their behalf. She simply lacked the social standing.
No! If anyone had the littlest chance of overturning the stupid wager, it was she.
Fuelled by her conviction and determination, she peeped through the curtains to see that there was daylight already. Good, she thought. She had only one thought in her mind, and that was to get back her inheritance from the Baron, William Gregory, no matter how bleak the situation looked. At least if she should leave now, there was little chance that she would be seen by anyone. The day had yet to break fully.
Quickly, Isabel ran out of her room and down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Aunt Mariam came out, just as Isabel dashed out through the door and into the stables.
“Get my horse ready for me!” Isabel ordered the stable boy.
He looked at her, puzzled. In all his time of service to the Montgomery household, Isabel had developed a habit of taking a horse for riding anytime she pleased and without any forewarning. However, this time around, she looked like she was in such a hurry; he was prompted to address her.
“I have a matter to discuss with Lord Gregory,” Isabel replied.
“My Lady, I advise against it. The Baron is a man of ill reputation, and his character justifies the rumours that swell around town. At the very least, allow Lady Mariam to accompany you. Please My Lady, I plead with you!”
“Jack, your family has served mine for many years, and I can even remember growing up to see you here at the stables daily. What makes you believe I have not given thought to all you say? For now, I will have to reject your advice,” Isabel said and climbed the saddled horse.
By the time Isabel was out of the stables, Aunt Mariam was close at hand. Isabel noticed she was panting, having crossed the distance in such a short time. Following quickly after her, she found Isabel on her mounted horse and about to take off.
“My Lady, where are you heading to at this time? Or, wait, let me accompany you!” Aunt Mariam screamed as she rushed to Isabel.
All Aunt Mariam wore was her nightwear and a scarf wrapped around her neck and arms. Isabel, on the other hand, was a bit more prepared. There was no need endangering Aunt Mariam any more than was necessary.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Mariam. I am going to get our family out of the mess that my brother has put us in. Take care of the house till I return. I won’t be long!” Isabel yelled back.
And with that, she was gone. She pushed the horse as fast as it could go. Galloping past the streets and onto the road that would lead to the estate of the Baron, Lord William Gregory.
The thought of what her servant had said pestered her as she rode towards the Baron’s abode. She could not stop thinking about what the rumors said about the mysterious Lord. How could a Lord such as himself fall to such a level?
She had oftentimes wondered if all the rumours were true. Did he really frequent ladies of the night? Most men were guilty of drinking and gambling. However, did he not know that as a Lord he was to be of an upright character? What must have happened to him to cause him to fall to such levels of depravity?
Suddenly, she looked up to see the outline of a large estate in the distance. It covered as much land as four times that of her family’s estate. Surrounded by forests and trees, the Gregory estate was like an alien amid so much greenery.
Unconsciously she began rethinking her actions. What if coming to the Baron’s house had been a mistake. Suddenly, the impact of her actions seemed to dawn on her, and there was a swell in her throat. Was not this the same step her brother had taken that had ended up backfiring and he had lost everything in the end?
Would the same fate befall her? How could she hope to do any better at convincing this Lord of handing back all their property than her brother who had tried and failed woefully? The fear now gnawed at her heart, and she forced the horse to slow down to a trot.
She had not given this as much thought as she would have liked. What would she say to the Baron that could possibly change his mind? Or rather, what could she offer?
Exasperated, she looked up to the clouds in search of an answer. She prayed to her parents if they could hear her. A tear fell off her eye and onto her cheeks.
As though in answer to her prayer, a cool breeze accompanied by a gentle wind swirled around her, calming her racing heart. Something deep within her moved, and she felt a gratifying satisfaction.
There was no need to think of what to do now. She would confront the Baron, and then the words would find a way to reach his heart. No man was made of stone. Moreover, what more could she lose?
With her conviction once again strengthened, every other thought evaporated out of her mind. Charging down the road, she rode like a bull that had marked its target and would get to it. However, no one was going to succeed in stopping her. She was going to get back her father’s property, no matter what it took!
Chapter 4
Lord William watched from the balcony of his third-floor building, a woman wearing a blue dress and riding a horse. She looked enchanting in her dress, and the wind did little to stop the dance of her hair as she sped past the gates, racing as though with great urgency.
She brought her stead to a stop just a few feet from the front porch. William could not deny that she was indeed beautiful. She looked rich and familiar like the daughter of a nobleman or Duke. However, there was no resemblance to the Dukes he was familiar with.
This one above all sparked his interest. For her to have charged into his dwelling, unaccompanied, then she was bold. Not just bold, there must be something in his possession that she desired so badly; otherwise, he would make her regret coming there alone. He would need to find out more about her.
Meanwhile, Isabel wasted no time in climbing down from her horse and watched as her beast was taken and led to the stables by one of the servants. Another servant emerged from within the house and without asking any questions, led her into the main building.