The Duke Who Loved Me

by Rachelle Stevensen

  It felt like his leg was burning, felt like his blood poured out of him in great waves, but he didn’t give his father the satisfaction of crying out. He had to keep going, no matter what. So, he kicked out at his father with his good leg, catching him on his knee and bringing Jacob down for a minute.

  Aidan was able to cut his father’s sword arm in a deep slice down his forearm from elbow to wrist after Jacob had fallen to one knee. And he knew it was a hard hit. With all the blood that was flowing from that cut, Aidan was surprised his father could hold onto his sword as well as he did.

  His father looked down at the deep cut and breathing harder than normal, looked up at Aidan, his face a mask of rage. It scared Aidan, but he knew his face looked the same.

  Aidan swung his sword again, and missed. His father rolled out of the way, and when Jacob got to his feet again, he brought his legs into play and kicked Aidan right in the thigh where he had last been cut.

  Aidan cried out and sank to his knees, grabbing his thigh. The pain of the kick on his open wound hurt more than the cut itself. It made his blood flow even faster, and his pant leg on one side was soaked with the blood and they were sticking to him.

  When he tried to focus on anything but the pain in his leg, he saw Jacob’s sword coming his way. He brought his sword up to block a blow, but once again, though he was fast, he was not quite fast enough.

  Jacob nicked him on his shoulder and Aidan felt the warmth seep down his shirt. Jacob’s sword pulled away, and Aidan was afraid to see where it was now. Aidan knew he had to stop focusing on his wounds. Had to keep his head in this fight that he was losing with each passing moment. With each swing of the sword.

  When he looked up to see where Jacob was, he knew it was a mistake. His father’s sword came down in a slash toward Aidan’s face.

  Aidan tried to lean out of the way of the sword, and did what he could, but it was too late. The sword was too fast and it came hard, and it wreaked havoc on its pass.

  It connected, the sword tip hit right on his forehead, down through his eyebrow, just barely missing his eye, slashing over his nose and ending at his cheek, just over his jaw.

  He wrenched his face away from his father’s sword, with a pained yell and grimaced as the blood flowed down his face and into his eye, his nose and his mouth.

  He shut his eye, not being able to see and knowing with the blood constantly flowing into it, it would do no good open anyway. As the blood poured down his face, he could taste the iron in his mouth, and he spat quickly. But it did no good. His mouth just refilled with more blood. Aidan was afraid of what would come next, and how he knew his body would soon register the hit of the blade.

  And he was right. The pain was horrendous. It only took scant moments for the pain to register, but now that it had, he tried taking deep breaths to not scream in agony. His face was on fire, felt like millions of blades had sliced him. And he could barely breathe through the pain and the blood.

  He could only imagine what he looked like right now. What it would turn out like He knew with utter certainty it wasn’t pretty. He could barely breathe, and he knew this was going to be the end for him.

  He knew that with the deep cut on his thigh and now this one, he was losing blood too fast. This would end, and he had failed.

  His father laughed as Aidan climbed to his feet, wanting to not to die on his knees. Knowing he had to keep going, and trying to not grimace in pain, as his thigh protested his weight. And his face protested any tiny movement he made.

  He was starting to feel lightheaded, and he swayed on his feet, his ears starting to ring. Knowing he wouldn’t last long. Not now, not like this. Not against a man like Jacob.

  He knew this was the end for him. But, he couldn’t stop, wouldn’t stop; not when he had strength left inside him, he would not give up.

  He had many reasons to keep going. To keep fighting, no matter that the pain was becoming unbearable. That he could only see out of one eye, and that one leg had gone numb. He had to keep going. Had to. No matter the cost. His family, his mother lying there, half dead, they all depended on him, and he would not fail.

  Their blades clashed again and again. Aidan’s leg protested his weight with every moment he stood on it. He could no longer lunge like he had before, could barely hold his ground and his sword.

  He got more light headed as he and his father fought like savages in the lavish room. They hit into things, knocked priceless artifacts from tables, threw things at one another. This fight had become a true fight to the death.

  They didn’t speak now, there wasn’t a need for words, just grunts, growls and snarls.

  Aidan was tiring quickly. He could feel the sweat and blood running down his face, and saw his father also had rivers of sweat dripping down his. Aidan knew one thing for certain that the minute he died Jacob would kill Lydia first, then hunt for the girls. He couldn’t let it happen. Wouldn’t allow it to.

  He swung his sword at his father, one last time, and their blades caught together. Jacob, using his strength and prowess with a blade, relieved Aidan of his sword with an expert move.

  The sword flew out of his hand past his father; and Aidan froze, knowing this was the end for him. Death had come.

  He didn’t want to shut his other eye, he wanted his father to see him, to see what he had done as he struck the killing blow, needing him knowing without a doubt what a monster he was. Also knowing that he wouldn’t care that he had killed his own son. His heir.

  Jacob smiled in triumph, and brought his sword back with a ferocious cry. Aidan kept his eye steady on his father, unblinking, unflinching, and not seeing the figure come up behind Jacob.

  Aidan tried desperately to keep from shaking, from showing any weakness at all. Trying to keep the terror off his face. To keep it locked inside. Hating that he had failed them all.

  He flinched involuntarily as Jacob’s sword came at his chest, knowing it would end his life, but before it could reach its goal, Jacob jerked hard and stepped forward, his sword hitting the floor, and Aidan’s sword sticking out of his stomach from behind. The tip dripping blood onto Jacob's once white shirt.

  Jacob looked down in shock and seeing the sword embedded in his body, looked slowly back up at Aidan, like he had no idea how it got there. “What?” was all he could say as blood bubbled up in his mouth and dribbled down his chin to his chest.

  He dropped to his knees; the carpet muffling the sound, and fell to the side. His breath was rattling in his lungs and more blood fell from his mouth. His eyes were staring, full of hatred and disbelief. He coughed, and jerked on the ground. He tried to turn to see who had stabbed him from behind, and finally realized.

  “Lydia, you bitch,” was all he could get out before death took over and he shut his eyes. His body going still.

  Aidan looked up through the blood on his own face to see his mother standing behind where Jacob had fallen. She wavered on her feet; her body was shaking, with one eye swollen shut, the other not far behind, and her nose still had blood running from it.

  Blood dripped in a constant pitter-patter from the cut on her head. And the bruises on her neck was in the shape of perfect fingerprints in a ring.

  She pulled her dress up so it wasn’t falling off her shoulder, but it was ripped so badly, it kept sliding down her arm. She finally just left it alone.

  Aidan was done. His strength gone. He finally took a shuddering breath and fell to his knees, then to his back. The pain in his leg so much, that it no longer supported his heavy frame.

  It jarred him, and the pain throughout his entire body was almost too much to bear. He cried out, finally letting his strength leave him.

  Letting himself let go of what he held inside this night. He was beyond caring that he should be strong. That he should stay silent and not make a noise of pain. He cared not that someone would judge him for letting out any sounds.

  His leg spurted more blood from the deep slash. His mother stepped over Jacob’s still form and came to hi
s side. Hugging him tightly, she sobbed in his arms.

  Aidan barely had the strength to hold her, but he did. He needed to hold his mother before he died. Letting her know without words that he loved her. He was losing blood too fast, and the world was getting dark around the edge of his vision.

  His arms fell away and his eyes started rolling back in his head. His mother caught him, and she yelled as much as she was able, “Aidan, NO. You need to stay awake. Stay awake Aidan. Please Aidan! Keep your eyes open.”

  Laying him back, she went to get up, to get supplies, something, anything, when Cole ran in carrying another sword. This one looking quite similar to the one now sticking out of Jacob’s body.

  He looked around the room with a fierce expression on his face, almost murderous, and saw Aidan, their mother and Jacob all on the floor. He dropped the sword when he saw the blood all over the room and running from the many cuts on Aidan, and ran to where Aidan was lying.

  “Aidan, what have you done? What happened?” he cried out when he reached Aidan’s side.

  Looking at his brother’s mutilated face Cole grimaced hard.

  Lydia snapped at him. Her voice wasn’t working well, but she did her best, “Cole, now is not the time. We need bandages, my medicine case, and I need my sewing kit. Also, I need hot water, and whiskey. Lots of it. GO.”

  Cole looked at his twin brother one last time and got to his feet quickly. “Please don’t let him die mother. Please. Aidan, be strong. You are not allowed to die. Not yet. I will hurry. Please stay alive Aidan. I beg you brother. It cannot end like this.”

  Lydia looked up at Cole, “Aidan is losing blood fast. Hurry Cole. This can’t wait much longer. If we don’t help him soon, he won’t survive. We need help to save his life.”

  Cole nodded and ran from the room. Moments later, their steward and housekeeper ran inside and seeing the carnage, and Aidan on the floor bleeding, Mrs. Peabody screamed and started crying.

  She dropped to her knees by Lydia and weeping, asked, “Oh my lady. Your face. And Aidan. Oh Aidan. What can I do Oh, Oh? Aidan? Sweet sweet Aidan. My dear boy.”

  Lydia grabbed her hand, “We need towels, as many as you can give me, and have Ida start heating the water for Cole. We need to do this quickly. Aidan needs to be sewn up. His face mainly, and the cut on his leg. He is losing too much blood. And the cut on his leg is deep. Anytime he moves it, more blood comes out. Hurry, Mrs. Peabody. I’m afraid he doesn’t have a lot of time. I don’t want to lose him. I am afraid he won’t have the strength to fight much longer.” She sobbed the last out, and she had to take a deep breath to stop from sobbing harder.

  The older woman stood and ran from the room, tears streaming down her face. Mr. Peabody took his wife’s place at Aidan’s side, “My lady, what can I do? I need some occupation please. I cannot sit here and watch Aidan die. Tell me what needs to be done.”

  Lydia looked around the room, assessing, trying hard not to give into hysterics.

  Seeing the room ripped to shreds, things thrown all over, glass shattered on the floor, from various vases and other things, Lydia had no idea what they were.

  There too was all the blood. The various cuts from both Jacob and Aidan, left a gruesome trail behind.

  Lydia swallowed again and again, willing herself not to break down into sobs.

  Just thinking what could have happened to Aidan, more than herself, was hard.

  She had stopped caring long ago what happened to her. As long as her children were all right, that was all she needed to get through.

  To let things keep happening to her so that they wouldn’t suffer as much. She had tried, and knew she failed where Aidan was concerned.

  Tonight, was proof of that. Over and over she failed him, it was agonizing for her.

  She shook her head, trying to push those thoughts away. They would keep for later.

  “We need to get Aidan to his room when I finish stitching his wounds, and we need to get this mess cleaned up. That is our main priority, to stop the bleeding. Then, when it is finished, my husband needs to be buried. Just bury him in the family plot as soon as you can. It needs to stay as quiet as possible. We also need to figure out a story for Town and for the villagers. But that can wait for later. Just do everything else first. We have to save Aidan’s life, then we can focus on everything else.”

  Mr. Peabody stood and summoning up a trusted footman, they picked up Jacob’s body and walked out of the room. Lydia knew it would be taken care of discreetly.

  Cole had come back in with Lily and Rose on his heels. He also had an armful of towels, and the big black bag of her medicines she had crafted over the years.

  Lily held a bottle of whiskey, her eyes bloodshot from crying, and Rose had a pot of steaming water. Lily let out a gasp when she saw the pools of blood on the floor. Both from Aidan and Jacob.

  Lydia motioned them over. She looked down at Aidan’s face and had to blink hard to not cry as she so desperately wanted to.

  Her throat felt raw and it hurt badly to swallow, but she pushed her pain aside to focus on her son.

  He was such a good man. He had not had an easy life, and she felt awful that he had been brought into the world only to deal with his father.

  She was also grateful that he was hers. He had been her life saver along with Cole. Since Aidan had been born first, he seemed particularly hated by the man, although, not until they were older. She never knew why they went from being the center of Jacob’s world to his most hated enemy.

  They were such fantastic children, and she truly tried to protect them as much as she could. She would rather take any punishment that Jacob could give, than have him hurt her children. But, as obvious from today and for years, she didn’t protect them from everything. And it tore her up inside.

  They took such good care of her and gave her a reason to keep going until she had her girls.

  She lived for her children and could only hope that now, they would finally have the life that they so desperately deserved. She focused on Aidan’s face and his eyes were glassy from pain and were trying to roll back into his head.

  She shook him slightly, “Aidan, you need to stay awake. You can sleep later, but right now I need you to stay awake for a bit. Please Aidan. I cannot believe you came in here to save me. You were almost killed. I do not know what I would have done without you.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek to land on his face, and Aidan looked up at his mother. His voice was hoarse as he said, “I couldn’t let him kill you. I wouldn’t let that happen. Not if I could help it. I had to do this. I chose to do this even knowing it would end with me dying, even knowing that I am not a great fighter. It had to be done mother. He had to be stopped. It is my responsibility to care for this family. It always has been.”

  Cole overheard Aidan’s quiet words and he sighed. “You have too many responsibilities that you shouldn’t have to shoulder alone. Tonight, was something that should not have happened with just you. You could die Aidan! You should have let me help you. Together we could have done what just one person couldn’t. Let me take some of your burdens. The dukedom is just as much my responsibility as yours. You may be older and now hold the title of Duke, but I know what I am doing. I can help you Aidan. Because I love you brother.”

  Aidan started to speak to acknowledge Cole’s fierce words, but it felt like his face and leg were on fire, but yet at the same time, he felt cold. This pain was different than anything he had felt before and he knew that he could die. The pain he had been in before was nothing compared to this. He only hoped his family would be all right if he did die.

  The pain was so great and it was hard to focus with everything that happened, and the blood running down his face and his leg. It was starting to catch up to him and his eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them.

  The room was starting to blur and he couldn’t hear what his mother was saying to him. It sounded like he was underwater and his vision kept dimming with every minute that passed. Blac
k was building in his vision and he could no longer see. He finally just shut his eyes, and said a prayer that no matter what happened, his family would be all right.

  That somehow, they would recover from this. That was the last thought he had, before everything went black and he could think no longer.

  Chapter One

  Aidan

  Northumberland, England Sept, 1812

  Aidan St. Andrew jarred awake. He sat up in bed abruptly. His nightmares plaguing him tonight. He had the same dream, the same memories for the 6 years it had been since his father had died.

  The sword fight, the horrible words his father spewed with such anger and hatred at him, still made him wince. He remembered how much it hurt. How he wished his life had been different.

  For a long time, while he was recovering, Aidan wished he could have pleased his father. Wished he had made him proud at least once. Hoped that the things he said hadn’t been real. But they had. He knew that even if he had done all the things his father had wanted, it still would not have done much good.

  Aidan still didn’t know what made him so evil. What had happened in his life to change him so completely. So irrevocably.

  His mother used to say that when she first met Jacob, that he was charming and kind. He always had a kind word to say to everyone, always sought out the wallflowers, and the bluestockings, or anyone who looked lonely, and danced with them.

  She didn’t know why that had changed. Why after their marriage and birth of their first children he had turned a page. Changed from her loving husband into a monster. She said it was like his father had turned into a completely different man.

  His mother had been so afraid of him, so terrified when he had come home from one of his trips to London. She had told Aidan it was the first time he had ever struck her, the first time he had used her in such a way, she wouldn’t even tell Aidan and Cole the details.

  She was disgusted and hurt that he could so quickly go from the loving and kind husband she had fallen in love with, to the man who frightened her so badly that she would almost quake in terror when he came back from his trips to London. Sometimes she did. He would hurt her more when she showed her true feelings to him.