Chapter 4: Scheme

            Just as how the sun rises from the east and sets to the west, the grieving moment of Feladencia Dukedom ended after few months. However, for the left daughter of the noble duke, the sorrow and grief will always be a part of who she is. Both the loss of her beloved mother and father will always have a scar on her bitter heart.

            Lady Francesca woke up early morning as the six o’clock bell of the cathedral resounds, marking the incantation of the Angelus Prayer. As she was not as a religious person as her mother, she sat silently on her bed, mind flying elsewhere, even she could hardly identify where.

            She just waited for the bell to end before finally getting up off her Georgian inscribed bed.

            Grabbing on a rich fur coat hanging in a stand, she wrapped it around herself to cover her body from the morning shivers; as well as from exposing anything meant hidden from the eye of the public with her thin sleeping chemise.

            She stepped outside the balcony of her room and savor the refreshing breeze. Closing her eyes, she let the free air sweep her naturally curly fiery auburn hair off her waist and suspended into the open space.

            A lot of things had changed after the death of Duke Landon. As according to custom, Duchess Carlotta resumed the role of a duke of the dukedom, until its daughter and rightful heir, Lady Francesca, be of right age to rule.

            The head matron had also changed. Sussana had retired back to their home and Matilde replaced her. But most of the servants were not reshuffled.

            Even in Lady Francesca, herself, she noticed some changes especially on her attitude. Gone are the wild, bold, and youthful vigor she once posses. T’was as if, she managed to grow and mature rapidly in a matter of few months.

            She become more composed now. She doesn’t easily act basing on impulse, rather, of sound reasoning, because she knew, everything had changed.

            Her ladyship was aware of the wrath for power that was creeping the wall of the Chandler manor. Some of her relatives might have been eyeing the position to rule, seeing her unfitting to resume merely basing on gender. Having a duchess regent too doesn’t help at all.

            Also, Lady Francesca was well aware of the undeniable lust for power and control of her stepmother. It would be too dumb to be careful around her.

           

***

            Apparent change was to be seen on the duchess behavior, especially towards the dukedom’s heir. As much as she wanted to get rid of her once and for all, she was smart enough to know that doing so will only make things harder for her.

            Since Duchess Carlotta didn’t have any child to the late Duke Landon, only Lady Francesca was the direct successor to the dukedom. In her absence, the first male cousin coming the Chandler clan will took over, leaving the August woman nothing but a mere title of the former duchess of Feladencia.

           

            In short, she could not just recklessly terminate Lady Francesca on her liking. But as vicious and wicked she is, she found an alternative plan to partially get rid of her while bringing back the August bloodline’s power over Feladencia.

            That is, by marrying her off to one of her close nephew before she reaches the legal age, where she can no longer be under any supervision, but her own will and discretion. Carlotta wouldn’t sid idly to watch everything she worked for crumble right before her eyes. The marriage shall be consummated.

***

            Lady Francesca opened her eyes in no time when she heard rustle from below. She followed the sound until her vision ended up to the manor’s main gate.

            There was a guy, whom she supposed as a messenger as it carries a small flag with a sigil of a golden eagle. Her ladyship help but to be skeptic about it for it was been about three consecutive week that she was seeing such messenger with the same flag carried on his back.

            With the preheated duel for control, she couldn’t help to be suspicious of even the slightest thing. She pushed herself on the corner and hid among the plants and pillars. Peeping on a small hole, she saw Matilde receiving the letter. She even looked around as if checking if someone is witnessing the act.

            Gotcha! Sensing something was up, Lady Francesca rushed on the corridor to meet the head matron and learn any secret she could unveil. She chose to wait on the poorly illuminated area so as to conceal her presence.

            Not long after, she could hear footsteps approaching. It was Matilde. She was oblivious of the awaiting presence of her ladyship in the corner. She was walking closer and closer to where Lady Francesca hid, when someone intercepted the plan.

            “Have you had the letter I asked?” said the domineering voice, belonging to none other than the duchess regent.

            “With all integrity, I do,” Matilde responded smirking. Her eyes was as evilly sparkling as do the duchess’s.

            Lady Francesca gritted her teeth in disgust and resentment. How could the tide change so easily? Those people, whom she perceived a good servant and loyal to the house, can actually be snakes that can inject venom.

            She stayed still and almost held her breath not to cause any noise. It would definitely be a suicide to jump in their midst without knowing the cards they’re holding.

            Lady Francesca payed attention when her stepmother started to give hint of the scheme they’re cooking.

            “Great! The August bloodline will soon dominate this dukedom as it was originally ours before the reign of King Henry II...” the duchess proudly spouted, leaving Lady Francesca dumbfounded.

            The late duke’s daughter tried to remember the history of their dukedom, she was taught at a very young age. Accordingly, Chandler clan came in possession of the Dukedom as a reward to the great feat of Lander Chandler during the Battle of Cape Satilendo.

            Lady Francesca’s mouth literally parted open dry upon realizing the following facts she can reminisce about the dukedom’s history…

            But before the Chandler, the August Clan used to hold the lordship over the dukedom until it was confiscated from them due to corruption and incompetency.

            How come I only realized it now? Does my father know? The answer was obviously yes as Duke Landon was known to be a book reader. He could have read it in the manor’s library. This leads to the question… why does he allowed an August infiltrate through the family legacy? Lady Francesca thought.

            “Poor Francesca will soon lose everything she was entitled too once the marriage sets off. I am her legal guardian after all,” she later added.

            Shocked and surprised, were the young ladyship only reaction. Marriage? How could that be? Just how could she marry a man she never met and barely know? She thought.

            Once the two wicked women leaves, Lady Francesca stormed off back her room and reflected on what she just learned. Eloisa followed by and prepared for her morning bath.

            Upon having witness Matilde’s change of loyalty, she couldn’t help to doubt even her own handmaid. How many more loyal servants they once had turned their back against the rightful heir?

            This place, she once considered home, was no longer safe and comforting to qualify as one. This manor was a battlefield for chase of power, sadly.

***

            The next morning, Lady Francesca instructed Eloisa to prepare her luggage as she will be having a short vacation to her grandmother’s humble house in Verindale. She doesn’t know how long, but not until she feels safe to come back again, she will not.

            Let her set distance first until she learns all about her stepmother’s cards and threw a counter attack accordingly.

            As Eloisa was about to leave and prepare her own things for the vacation, Lady Francesca halted her. “I intended to go on this trip without a handmaid. My grandma in Verindale will surely introduced me to a diligent woman as attentive as you are,” she tried not to sound offensive and accusative.

            The handmaid just nod and obliged. “I’ll let the footmen pick up your things to the carriage. Have a blessed trip, my lady.” With that having said, Eloisa stepped out of the room.

            For formality’s sake and to make it seem as if Lady Francesca was obliviously of the secret marriage plan set for her, she visited the duchess regent’s room to bid her goodbye.

            “Dressed as if you are traveling, young lady?” Duchess Carlotta retorted as soon as she entered the room. Someone might have reported her departure plan already as she expected. “By the way, what brings you here?” the duchess then shifted into an introductory question.

            “It’s been a while since I had last paid my grandma a visit, it’s about time that I shall go,” Lady Francesca tried to hide any sort of feeling of resentment in her tone. It was a time to play nice and dumb.

            “Oh drop the goody-goody attitude. We both knew how we dislike each other, why bother mask it?” the duchess professed bluntly, having no Duke Landon to guard her insolence.

            Lady Francesca pretended to be unbothered and just forcefully smile. The wicked duchess was still her legal guardian and she can meddle with her plan to go on a vacation.

            “I’ll get that as a blessing. Now, I’ll be going on my way. Have a nice day, Duchess Carlotta.” She faked a concern and sauntered towards the door.

            She walk passed the long corridor, down to the wide railed staircase, and straight to the awaiting carriage.

            Eloisa together with some butlers and footmen bid her goodbye as she mounted in. And as for security’s purposes, some butlers tag along with the coachman. The trip to Verindale will surely take at least one and a half day of travel.