Chapter two

Chapter two

The bartender pushed her out and yelled, anger impinged in his voice, "Next time, do not come to my store if you can't pay for what you drink!"

Monica staggered and leaned against a wall, eyeing the man ruefully, "Curses! I have money…all of it. You pesky little..."

Before she completed her sentence, the man slammed the door, disgusted by her drunken state. As far as he knew, the women of England did not go around dressed in trousers and boots, not to talk of being drunk.

Monica frowned and swallowed, returning her gaze to her path. The lane seemed to dance erratically and divide into three, "Foolish English. You all think you are so smart. When I get my duchy back, you'll see."

She stopped walking and stared into darkness, her eyes shutting slowly and tiredly, just before she surrendered to the arms of unconsciousness.

***

"I know he will be as good as father," Anna Forland said to the duchess as they stared down at Philip through the window.

Her mother grinned, "I believe. He has a lot to learn though. And maybe when he comes of age, he'll bring me a wife who'll replace me."

Anna's eyes lit immediately, "Well my brother hasn't spoken to a woman in his life. In that case, I have a friend, the Viscount's daughter. I'm sure  he'll like her."

Rebecca smiled at her son who had been clearly busy getting acquainted with politics lately, "You see to it."

***

Philip tried his best to listen to his father's secretary without falling asleep. It even surprised him how he was being successful at that, given how much the talk bored him.

Brooke Hayman continued his lecture, "As a Duke, you will have a lot to think of. Most especially, taking care of those places under your care. Given your age, I'll be your personal mentor till you learn all you need to."

Philip almost yawned at that. And then he realized he wasn't going to last long being awake while Brooke spoke. At the same time, he knew this was serious business, and sooner or later, the entire empire was going to be his.

At that realisation, he rubbed his eyes and gave the man half of his attention. Just half, writing down the points he felt were important.

His friends however watched him from afar, especially Earl  who understood the severity of the situation, "I wonder when next he'll join us out."

From the looks of it though, it wasn't going to be anytime soon.

***

"I cannot believe it!" Monica said with her hands yanking on her hair, "The Duke is dead. His son is taking over," she began pacing up and down happily, "This… is great news."

Her mother could not help but give her a glare, "So how does this cure our hunger Monica?"

The younger lady turned quickly, smiling brighter than she'd done in a long time, "Don't you understand?  The new Duke is quite young, charming and very vulnerable. And most especially, " she swirled with pride while waving her red hair, "He'll be searching for a duchess. Young and beautiful. If I could get there, I may make him return our Scottish lands to us!"

The whole extended family gawked at her, eyes that clearly expressed their thoughts.

Nathan, her eldest brother, was the only one kind enough to explain further, "Well you and befitting have nothing to do with each other. Who will want a lifetime criminal for a wife?"

Monica glowered at that and retorted, "Unless you want to tell him that. Don't you see a chance of finally getting what's rightfully ours Nathan. Unless you have another plan!"

Miranda, youngest of all, gave a sigh of frustration, "She's right. We do not belong in this sort of life. Imagine our mansion back at Scotland."

Monica shook her head, looking at her entire family, then at the empty wooden table, "I will put food on that table tonight and I promise that. Very soon, it's going to be permanent."

***

The to-be Duke looked at the massive empire, soon to be his to manage. He was afraid, that he confessed, about if he was going to be efficient or a bag of filth.

Walking through the double doors, he  got a wider view of the building, and a greater portion of the fear. Dark green tiles, golden chandeliers, foreign designs and sculptures everywhere. Obviously, the last thing on his mind now was finding a duchess, mainly because he had no one in mind.

A sudden hand gripped his arm excitedly. Looking down, he found his younger sister staring at him with those eyes that meant she was up to something.

"I have a friend I'd like you to meet," Anna Forland said with her hand fan up in the air.

Coming from his world of thoughts, Philip replied automatically, "Oh… Alright."

She escorted him through the living room to her own chamber. Her brother stopped at the sight of a very fair blonde, her innocent grey eyes searching the house.

Anna announced, "Meet Elizabeth, daughter of the Viscount of Mareda," she then turned to the lady and beamed just as bright, "And Elizabeth, meet my brother, the Duke."

Elizabeth Aflong curtsied slightly, "Your Grace. It is an honour."

Philip smiled genuinely, looking down at her, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

She curtsied again. At that, Philip nodded and walked away, sending a smile to his mother as he did.

The duchess made sure Philip took a full exit before she declared, "I think he likes you."

Elizabeth smiled sweetly. Well that was easy.

***

She crouched under the table, looking up now and then to make sure she was alone. Retrieving her bag, she quickly began picking some loaves of bread into it, right before she went for the fruits.

A voice startled her, "You thief! What are you doing?!"

Monica flung the bag over her shoulder and broke into a run, turning moments later to find half a dozen men running after her, determination on their faces.

Adopted to the life of escape, she hopped over a barrel and rolled over a rope, clutching the bag right. She sighted two men some distance in front of her and realised this was not going to be easy. She did not want to go to the cells again.

Jumping high up, she hit one on the face with her right fist and dashed further, noticing the men had stopped following her, most likely out of surprise.

"Let her go my friend. Taking her to prison again won't change anything. That's how born thieves are," she heard one say.

Monica Maitland slammed the door, panting and facing her big family, "I told you I would put food out tonight," then threw the bag at them, "here…eat up. There is enough for everyone."

Moving out of the house again, she made it to the woods, her thoughts going sadistic. The words she'd heard, "That's how born thieves are." Somehow, it made her rethink everything and seethe in pain, tears forming in her eyes. It was not her fault they lacked what they needed to live. Even she hated the fact she had to steal for it.

She would get her property back, that she vowed. And then prove to them she's not a thief. If only there was a way to meet the Duke.

***

Rebecca opened the mahogany door to find Philip playing a harp, "Here I was thinking you would be out with the boys. What are you doing up here alone in your room?"

Philip stopped making the music, staring at the strings, "I have better things to do than being out with the boys, mother."

The pain in his voice was evident, making his mother sigh and take a seat right beside him on the bed, "The son that I know would never prefer this to having a clash with Earl. What's wrong?"

Philip replied calmly, his eyes never shifting from the instrument even once, "My life would just have to be like this from now on. Right now, all I talk about is politics and duchy, maybe do it till the devil casts a Halo."

"There's fun in dukedom, my dear. You just have to make it yourself," Rebecca said with a confused smile.

Philip shook his head, pushing himself up from the bed and looking out the window, "The main problem here is that I do everything by myself. I am alone in this. The life I pictured was filled with archery, hunting, swordfight, fishing, not sitting all day having meetings and signing contracts like father used to do."

Rebecca stared down at her skirt and realized he was right. But she smiled afterwards, a reassuring tone in her speech, "A Duchess will lighten your mood."

"Getting married mother, really!" Philip frowned, "That is the last thing on my mind at the moment. Besides, I know no woman!"

His mother grasped his words, using them perfectly to her advantage, "How about Elizabeth Aflong? You've met her isn't it. I'd really like it if you'd consider…"

"You like her, mother," Philip asked.

His mother rushed to her feet with a wide grin, "Oh yes, my dear. And I'm sure you would too. She is pretty nice," she stole a sight of her son's expression before concluding, "maybe you could talk to her."

Philip faced her suddenly, "Then I will marry her, mother, since you like her."

"But do you," Rebecca asked reasonably.

He chuckled immediately, "I just met her. I can't tell. But you are a woman, my mother. You know what's best for me, aren't I correct?"

She smiled warmly, feeling his face gently with her hand, "That's my boy. How do you see a betrothal three days for now, the same day you are announced Duke. That will be the perfect party."

He faked a smile and looked down at her, "Anything mother."

Immediately, she grinned and left him in privacy.

Everybody looked so happy for him. If only he could just as well. A Duchess?

Except he knew nobody, he would have loved someone just like himself, trained with weapons and a soul like fire. But England did not seem to have those kind of women, did it?