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“We will thank both you and your master for your kindness.” Jack received the token and handed it to Mira. Samuel took out another token and gave it to Jack as he noted that Jack handed it to Mira. “We….” Jack was about to refuse when Samuel interrupted. “Keep one on your person.” He handed the token to Jack and reminded “It is better to be cautious.” “Thank you.” Both Mira and Jack thanked Samuel. Samuel stood up as his purpose of arrival had been accomplished “Then I will take my leave.” “Wait…let me get you some…...” Mira took two steps into the house when Samuel tried to stop her – “No need to get anything. I was just …..” “You can’t argue with me.” Mira pouted childishly; Samuel sat back helplessly. She turned to walk towards the kitchen but turned back once again “Are there many visitors at your master’s place today?” “No… just a quiet meal.” Samuel shook his head. “Does your master like pheasant meat?” Samuel nodded although he had an amused smile. Mira went to the
On Saturday as Mira predicted, Ursula, Agnes, Matthew and Harry arrived first and then around 10 o’clock the Ward clan with the exception of Joan and Emma arrived but that was later. Currently it was just Mira's folks. “You are being watched.” Harry warned as he sat down. “When did you manage to offend Jane?” Matthew asked before correcting himself as he saw Jack and Mira’s blank face “Dame Killion.” “We haven’t offended her.” Mira shook her head before asking “Why?” “Her men are here as well.” “Oh…” Mira’s lips curled up as she thought of Samuel’s offer with gratitude. “Then it is a friend I take it.” Matthew chuckled seeing his daughter’s silly smile. Mira told her father and the others about their association with Samuel …right up until their last conversation. “She is a good woman.” Harry nodded “You can trust her.” “Um” Mira nodded before asking “Who else?” “Slegh’s men are here too.” “Um”. Mira nodded before curling her lips in disdain “They can try.” “Don’t be so arr
They had come rushing when they heard Mira’s desperate scream. They were given only one job- protect Mira and Jack. Neither wanted to think of the consequences of failing in their duty. They ran to help… what greeted them was three grown men hiding behind bushes, two in trees and one standing frozen. They had gotten here before Mira but decided to watch as they couldn’t make sense of the situation. They couldn’t figure out if the men started fighting and attacked each other or if there was another enemy…. What eventuated…they enjoyed watching… Martin came back with the small boar along with Oden. “What are we doing with this?” Matthew turned to Mira ignoring the surprised faces of everyone other than Harry. “They…” Beth pointed at the men and hid behind John. “Let’s marinate and have a big dinner tomorrow.” Mira smiled greedily as she clasped her hands. “Let’s get Almera and her Marquess over as well.” Mira smiled as she looked at Jack. Although it was a statement, she was asking
“Cousin’s wife is very generous.” Martin shook his head. He had heard the other apprentices talking about their families. Mira took good care of them even though they were only cousins. She took care of them the same way she looked after her folks. “Ha… ha…. ha….” Jack laughed as he gave the reins to Martin. He knew Martin liked to ride. They rode back quickly. Mira completed another small strip and came out of space. She decided to do some more floral patterns using yellow threads. Jack and Martin returned shortly after she started embroidering the spare robe. It was almost like a celebratory gathering. The men chopped the woods and made the preparation for the fire since they had to start early cooking early in the morning. Ursula got the beets prepared while Agnes made the blood sauce. By the time Mira came out, Beth had all the vegetables ready. Mira added 4 gallons of water, 8 cups pickling salt, 6 oranges and 2 lemons halved along with 2 bulbs garlic in a large pot. She sque
The next morning, Mira and Jack woke up early. They had lots of things to do before everyone came. Jack milked the cows while Mira took 30 eggs and prepared stuffed eggs; placed them in space. For breakfast, she made some scrambled eggs with the rest of the eggs which was plenty for all the family. She shredded the peasant that was left over from yesterday and made a dry dish that could be eaten with bread. She took out the rosemary and thyme bread she had stocked in space. Jack came in with the pail of milk and handed it to Mira. “Do you want to have breakfast now?” Mira asked as she started the fire to boil the milk. There was no reason for Mira boiling milk…. Everyone just drank it just like that… but she liked the taste of hot milk… so she boiled it! How could she know that it would become a standard practice thousands of years later. “I will wait for everyone.” Jack’s lips curled up as he saw the breakfast preparation his wife had done. “Then, drink a mug of hot milk and let’
“Come… come…” Matthew and Harry invited in unison with a wide grin. “By god, man…” Jane laughed “You two still alive?” “Ha… ha…ha…” Harry laughed and smirked “Did you think you suddenly got the ability to converse with ghosts?” “If I did” Jane hooked her eyebrows “I know there will be other ghosts I want to meet first.” “This is my daughter’s house.” Matthew started politely “It might not…” “Good lord, Matt…. When did you become so long winded?” Jane rolled her eyes as she walked forward like the empress. Samuel chuckled as he followed. Jane and Thomas didn’t need any introductions. Matthew introduced John, Beth, Oden, Martin and Anne-Marie while Harry introduced Agnes, Ursula, Jack and Mira. Thomas introduced Aldrin and Ferran; Almera didn’t need any introductions. Jane introduced Samuel to everyone. Once introductions were out of the way, everyone mingled without reservations. Mira slipped away while everyone was chatting and went to the cellar. She took the items she had prev
“She is useless anyway.” Joan smirked as she pulled Caster’s hand. “Leave this house today and the two of you are dead to us.” John warned as Emma was about to walk out the door with Joan. “Makes no difference.” Joan shrugged her shoulders as she walked out. Silence filled the room. No one spoke… only Anne-Marie’s tiny sobs could be heard. Oden hugged her comfortingly. “Mom hasn’t woken up…” Anne-Marie sobbed bringing everyone’s attention back to Beth who had fainted. “I will take her to the healer. You lot stay here.” John stood up; his step faltered although he put a tough front. “Dad, you stay here with Anne-Marie.” Oden supported his father “I will take mom along with Martin.” “Um” John nodded as he rubbed his chest and walked over to his bed. Anne-Marie watched both her parents miserable state and didn’t know what to do… Her father was putting a tough appearance… but she wasn’t so sure… She did the only thing she knew… She waited for her father to lie down and left the hous
Both Beth and John were back to normal after a day’s worth of good rest. Ursula went back home with Matthew when he came in the afternoon, after preparing both dinner and supper. She didn’t wait for Oden and Martin to come back as Beth was already feeling better after eating the porridge with the medicinal herbs that Mira gave. Mira and Jack didn’t have any other distractions. They both worked hard fully concentrating on their work. They even ate in space as the food was already cooked and placed there. They only came out to water the crops, let the animals out to graze in the morning and lock the barns at night. Martin couldn’t deliver the crown clasp on Monday as promised but Jack and Mira didn’t care. Jack paid a visit to the smithery on Mira advice and told Simeon to deliver on Wednesday as they had some inconvenience. Simeon just laughed in good humor. How could he not understand? Martin bought the short chain and crown clasp on Wednesday as promised and the long chain on Thurs
“She must be working.” Jack shook his head helplessly and explained as he saw that the worry written all over Harrison’s face was genuine “She tends to forget time when she concentrates.”“Wife...” Jack called out as he knocked on the door.Mira had just completed Aunt Beth’s pattern when she heard Jack’s voice. She came out of space and opened the door happily only to see Jack frowning and Harrison’s anxious face. Seeing the light outside had faded, Mira blinked with a silly mischievous grin as realization hit her…. An entire day had passed!Jack really wanted to scold Mira, but he couldn’t say a word of reprimand as he saw her silly grin.“You are not allowed to do this.” Jack shook his head helplessly and spoke in a gentle tone as he pulled her into his embrace.“Um” Mira readily nodded.“Next time...” Jack tilted his head to look at Mira with a serious gaze; Mira didn’t let him continue. She jumped to cover his mouth and shook her head hurriedly “No next time….”“I … I will get the
Jack and Oden followed Carl the next day to familiarize themselves with the different businesses of the estate. Mira literally locked herself in her work room designing the dresses. She made an agreement with Almera to deliver the embroidered materials for the dresses of her mother, godmother, Aunty Beth and Anne-Marie first followed by the embroidered materials her father, godfather, Uncle John, Big Cousin and Cousin. The next batch would be for embroidered materials for Jack and Thomas; theirs would be the last.John busied himself with the cattle and rabbits while Anne-Marie spent all day with Dax. No one was happier than her. Beth wanted to make herself useful but there was nothing for her to do. The kitchen was basically manned by Harrison and the 2 maids. She wanted to find Mira and ask what she should do but Mira was nowhere to be found. She decided to harvest the spinach and other vegetables. John joined her once he finished his work with the cattle. They looked at each other a
The king’s men actions were swift. It took them a day to find the truth behind Jack’s drugging event and submit their report. Meanwhile, the Slegh’s gathered in the old master’s study to discuss counter measures. Old master Slegh rubbed his chest uncomfortably as he listened to his sons quibbling.“Father, the only solution is to give up on Lotta.” Cole decided to be the devil’s advocate. Cain frowned; It wasn’t that he had any love for the bastard, but his intuition told him that Lotta was just the tip of the iceberg.“What are your thoughts?” Old master Slegh looked towards Cain. Caster and Cole followed the old master’s gaze.“Somehow, I doubt that will be enough.” Cain shook his head as he slowly lifted his face “Father, do you think it’s old debts catching up with new ones?”“What old debts??” Old master Slegh furiously tapped his walking stick on the ground “Don’t speak carelessly.” His fury shut their mouths but not their doubts, which danced all over their faces in the form o
“Come... come… let’s talk inside.” Matthew invited everyone inside.“Dad…” Almera stood up in surprise as she saw the newly arrived guests “Why are you here?”“Have you finished dinner?” Aldrin asked Jack before anyone could respond.“Um” Jack chuckled although he was curious why the Dulstons were here.“It was …yumm…” Thomas rubbed his tummy with an exaggerated satisfied expression. Aldrin pursed his lips into a dissatisfied pout while everyone laughed, breaking the awkward situation.Jack invited everyone to take a seat while Mira and the ladies withdrew to the dining room. Orseus and Bernard came out and took their seats with faces full of jouissance, ready to watch the show. Almera stood at the doorway between the two rooms and repeated scrunching her face “Dad, why you here?”Cyrus sighed not knowing where to start.“It’s a long story.” Albert spoke in an unhurried tone as he couldn’t bear to see his father’s embarrassed face.“Start from the beginning.” Almera crossed her arms as
“Erm…. I have not seen them before, so I don’t know… but there was a man who was leaning back against the cart…” Ursula squinted as she tried to think back “He looked very miserable… like he was on his last leg….”“Can you try and think where he was hurt?” Orseus asked excitedly.Ursula pursed her lips downwards as she tried to think back “Not sure… but his shirt was dyed red…. The lady…. I mean Jack’s mom had a wound to the left side or may be right….” Ursula frowned “She had a wound that was oozing blood on one side… I remember because she was clutching this wound as she was urging me.”“Aunt, do you remember anything?” Jack turned towards Beth.Beth shrugged pursing her lips before whispering “It was a complete shock…. One minute we were happy and looking forward to the future… the next second everything came crumbling down.” No one thought more about Beth’s mumbling.“Ummm” Thomas hummed as he narrowed his eyes in thought “Looks like we have to unlearn everything we know and start
Thomas continued with the narration-“By the time they returned, it was 3 years later and never a word of the trouble brewing in the heart of the city. The letters your father sent kept them abreast of state and political affairs but never his personal affairs.” Thomas shook his head helplessly “They knew something wasn’t right but couldn’t do anything from where they were.”“When they got back, fate wasn’t generous. There wasn’t much time for them to even ask your father about things as trouble broke out in the southern borders and they were deployed again. Your father urged them to go and would discuss when they got back.”“He didn’t go along with them which was very unusual for him given the enormity of the trouble at the southern borders.…. He didn’t state his reasons, but father said that he thought that it must be due to trouble at home.” Thomas pursed his lips “Father said that Uncle Alex would never let them wander into death’s lap without him…. this was the first…. but who kne
Mira ignored him and continued to ask Thomas hinting at the extra guests “Should I get Harrison to entertain them while we go down?”“Big sister” Tyson called smiling sweetly shocking Almera and Thomas. When did the little devil turn sweet?“I will be bored if I sit with you all. Are there kids in my age-group so that I can play with?” Tyson blinked innocently looking at Mira with his most adorable expression. Thomas raised his eyebrows skeptically as he heard his brother’s strange request. ‘When did his brother think adult company was boring? When did he start enjoying the company of kids his age? Didn’t he think they were silly?’“Oh… how silly of me!” Mira tapped the back of her head as she pouted “There isn’t anyone your age” She twisted her lips “Jack’s cousin is much younger than you…. but she can show you her pet bunny if you like.” Mira tried to entice, thinking Tyson wouldn’t be interested.“Alright.” Tyson shrugged feigning an unwilling expression and muttered “Better than ad
“What case?” Martin turned around curiously before realizing that he was the butt of the joke and sitting back crossing his arms resentfully.“Hur…hur…hur….” Oden and Jack burst out laughing along with Mira “Puchi….”In the evening, everyone started arriving as planned. First Matthew and Harry arrived with Ursula and Agnes.“Your mothers didn’t want to stay at home on their own.” Matthew shrugged when Mira raised her eyebrows quizzically.“We came to keep Beth company.” Agnes walked forward ignoring the skeptical gazes of the boys and Mira.“Yes… yes… we came to give Beth company.” Ursula nodded with a guilty smile.“And not to spy on us.” Mira raised her eyebrows in a playfully taunting manner crossing her arms.“Would we?” Agnes blinked innocently as she whispered to Mirah “Even if your fathers have that intention, do you think we would betray our dear girl?”“Old woman, are you digging my grave?” Harry put on a pitiful expression which led to a bout of laughter.Mira quirked her eye
“I don’t think I heard anything confidential that warrants his fear.” Oden knitted his brows as he opened his mouth for the first time since he entered the room.Jack nodded to agree but Mira pursed her lips and knitted his brows.“What is it love?” Jack noted that she didn’t agree.“Maybe… maybe not…” Mira’s expression didn’t loosen as she continued “Think about it…. this is knowledge that only a few share…. Knowledge that could if used by those with malicious intent, incriminate the king of a treacherous act. One if instigated in the right amount could even start a rebellion.”“But what puzzles me is why the old master decided to take it sitting down.” Mira twirled her finger around a loose hair strand “The Haribeort’s must have had some clout to be able to write their own law of inheritance that didn’t conform to the normal laws of the land.”Mira kept twirling her hand as she spoke “He must have been betting on his grandson… something must have reassured him that there was no need