Chapter 4: The Letter

September, 1712

Bridgebrock

      The Grand Duke of Bridgebrock arrived from his five years voyage with his wife, Lady Morgan from India.

All the servants expressed their gladness as they welcomed their master and mistress back home in ecstasy. Their son Lord Bryan prepared a grand feast to celebrate their return. 

His mother hugged him so tightly, he could hardly breathe. 

"Mom, you are going to strangle me to death." he teased her. 

" Hash, you brat!,"

 his mother playfully beats him on the back. " My baby is now a man. " she said with joyful tears in her eyes. 

The last she saw him was when Lord Bryan was only  sixteen ,now a full grown man at twenty-one

" Give it a rest dear, " his father said

The Duke was truly proud of his son for the past five years, he has shown signs of great leadership and greatness. Not only had he managed to keep his home town in order but he had also succeeded in becoming industrious and wealthy. 

As the welcome party was going on, the Duke smiled at the humorous events as he was being entertained by pushy mothers who tried thrusting their daughters towards his son aiming for his attention. Some even tried to create a matchmaking conversation with his helpless wife. 

His son had made him the proudest man alive, being one of the most prominent and sought after bachelors in Witherfall. 

All he needed now was a family of his own, a good wife who would be his better half just like his beloved wife, especially now he had been appointed a personal adviser to the Prince  and a leader of the Royal knights.

The occasion was a blissful one. 

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After a couple of days, his Butler gave him letters sent to him while he was away... As he read through some were from his Estate manager, His clerk, Lawyer and business transactions made while he was away. Satisfied with his son's progress so far, he mentally made a decision to hand over to his son, when he finds himself a wife. He studied a few more letters, he chuckled as he saw some marriage proposals sent for his son.They were from well-respected families in Witherfall. The last one was a letter from an Old friend.

         Dear Lambert, 

My bosom friend, the sands in my hourglass is about to come to an end.I fear time is no longer at my side and my past errors will leave scars in walls that when people see the marks, they would spat at my grave and that of my only offspring. I cannot undo my mistakes but I could protect the ones I care for. With this letter, I solely hand over the guardian of my daughter, your goddaughter to you. 

                  Goodbye my friend.              

He was disheartened when he read this letter for he had arrived late, his best friend was dead and his goddaughter might be in danger. 

Immediately he rang for his valet, who quickly headed out to gather information concerning his friend and goddaughter's whereabouts.

Lord Lambert was terribly worried that he couldn't wait for his valet anymore, so he journeyed to Ravengate to look for them. This left his wife in shock as she was left in the dark about the issue  since her husband left in a hurry without telling her where he was going.His wife was deeply worried so she sent for her son,who was told by Butler about a letter he received three year ago. 

As Lord Lambert arrived in Ravengate, his personal valet searched for Mr Daniel Bennett and his family. Lord Lambert remembered the good days they had in the academy, when he told him of his interest in a servant girl and how he wishes to marry her when he returns. Daniel was very strong-headed. Once he makes a decision he sticks to it. He was adamant, refusing to change his mind cause he was deeply in love with Catherine. How brave he was to stand for the woman he loved. A man of great self esteem, he refused help from anyone but allowed him to be the godfather of his daughter, when she was born. 

After then he left his hometown, when his family finally cut all ties with him. In the letter, he had appointed him his daughter's guardian for he was afraid his daughter would suffer if he dies. Based on the facts contained in his letter, he has been dead for a long time. Lord Lambert only wishes to fulfill his friend's wish if he could find his daughter. After a long day of investigating, his valet informed him on how Lord Bennett had properly buried his brother, which was not surprising because their clan was never buried like paupers.... He cleared all his gambling debt and took his daughter with him as her guardian. 

Lord Lambert was displeased when he heard of Daniel's change and way of life after his wife's death and felt pity for his daughter who had to suffer the consequence of his actions. 

Accepting his journey was fruitless, he decided to head back home to search another day. Confronting Bennett would be a waste of time and energy because knowing the Bennetts, she would be treated like a slave. He was aware of how happy Lord Bennett was when his brother was stripped of his title and labeled an outcast in his own home. 

On his way home, he made a decision on how to get her married to his only son, based on the character quality of the girl, she was well trained and would make a good wife. 

When he got home, he realized that the haste of his actions had burdened his family.... Who were confused on what had gone wrong. He narrated his tale to his son and wife. He told his son about Jaylyn,Not telling him about his intention of making her his wife, but left some hints in their conversation. 

To please his father, Lord Bryan left for Dutchmall in search of Jaylyn. 

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Jaylyn was having her bath in the stream when she heard a voice from behind.... Someone was watching her again ..... She saw three men standing behind the white oak tree. She hurriedly grabbed her clothes. When she tried to run away, the men blocked her path. 

" Hey beautiful....", said the ugly looking one with spit drooling out from his mouth. 

" Stay away from me! " she yelled. 

The one who seems to be their leader tried touching her face but she slapped it off. 

" So you like it rough ahhh!!, " he slapped her on the face as she tried  to shout. He covered her mouth and pinned her to the white oak tree making it hard for her to breathe. He used his eyes to strip her off totally, she felt unclothed and kept griping for freedom.... Tired of her struggling, he yanked half of her gown from under as he tried to have his way with her, he lost grip over her mouth, she screamed louder for help. 

"Let go of me! " she cried as she felt fear traveling down her spin. 

Still struggling they tried to take advantage of her. 

" Hey!... didn't you hear the lady.... Get away from her."

Someone  shouted from behind Jaylyn couldn't see the person cause the big man had already blocked her view with his body. 

" Get away boy..... She isn't your business, we just have a little score to settle. "

The man scorned and refused to listen, he warned them to move away from her again. 

When the men insisted, he punched  the first one and fought off the rest,  out of fear they fled. 

" Are you okay!.... " he asked as he helped her. 

" yes!.....  Thank you very much sir, I better leave before my mistress starts to look for me." 

She said to the handsome fellow.