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“I am just worried that Aunt Beth and Uncle John might not be able to enjoy it.” Mira knitted her brows “They are servants of the Sleghs. Everything they own….” She stopped midway; the meaning was understandable. “Is that all that worries you?” Almera laughed. “Um” Mira pouted “You don’t understand…” “Maybe I don’t… maybe I do...” Almera shrugged with a her lips curling up with a cunning hint “But I sure as hell have a solution.” “You do???” Mira’s eyes widened before her expression became despondent “I have embroidered their names on the blanket, but I doubt that will do it….” “You’re right…” Almera nodded “They might not want to use something with their servants name on it… but they sure can destroy it stopping your aunt and uncle from enjoying it.” Almera agreed before clapping her hands “My idea will most certainly work.” Mira moved closer to Almera and started tugging her hands with a cute fawning expression. “You can give it to them saying it is a loan and for safe keeping
“Aunt, we are here.” Jack announced as he stood at the door holding the baskets along with Mira. Anne-Marie came running as always with Aunt Beth coming out wiping her hands on the apron. Mira had bought Dax along with them and handed him to Anne-Marie. This would keep the little girl occupied. “Aunt, there is something I need to talk to you about.” Mira spoke in a serious tone and literally dragged Beth out of the house along with Jack. Just as they were about to start talking, Mira saw Uncle John coming and pulled him into the conversation. “Mira has done a blanket for the two of you to keep warm during the winter.” Jack did the talking while Mira kept watch to make sure there were no prying ears including Joan and Emma. “Son, no need…. Our old bones can cope.” John shook his head. “Uncle, this is what we want to do. But...” Jack pursed his lips “We don’t want others to take away what we did for you.” “So, we are going to make you sign a contract in front of everyone…” Jack ex
Harry and Agnes’s reaction was even more exaggerated. Agnes wouldn’t let go of the blanket… her fingers lingered on the embroidery. Harry and Agnes insisted on everyone having supper at their place and Agnes rushed into the kitchen to prepare. Mira and Ursula followed while Mira told Agnes all about the wedding... Mira told Jack about the wedding dress she had to do for next week on their way back. “Love, if you are going to stop eating and do what you did last time… then I won’t agree.” Jack frowned. He didn’t want her to tire herself out like last time. “No…. no… I won’t… I promise…” Mira fawned coquettishly hanging on his hands. “Husband don’t frown…. Truly, I promise.” Mira coaxed Jack who kept his smelly face like a grumpy old man. Mira discovered Jack had become more childish, stubborn, domineering and more possessive since they had the heart-to-heart conversation in the pool. He was more himself in her presence than before. She liked him more for being himself… “I promise…”
Thomas enjoyed 2 weeks of uninterrupted peace with his beloved before getting busy with the task of suppressing the rebellious tribes from the west end. Almera settled into their new home which was far away from the reach of the Dowager Duchess interference and watchful eyes. She spent her days between the Dulston manor and their new estate, the love garden estate. Aldrin was a constant visitor as Ferran was the chief cook. Mira's days were also idyllic. She finished her work for the week and completed the blanket for themselves. She embroidered little angels with a floral pattern on the four corners. It was simple yet looked divine. Friday was Mira’s favorite day of the week. Firstly, she gets to chat with Almera and secondly, she gets paid…. Makes her a step closer to her goal. As usual, Almera was ready with bucket loads of gossip. She told Mira all about how Aveline rushed to the Amberton estate under the pretense of being her best friend only to be ridiculed by the Dowager Duch
Oden lowered his head respectfully as he watched the carriage move away before going back in. “Lady Marsden is very quick-witted, I am impressed.” Samuel laughed as he praised unreservedly “I didn’t mean….” “No need…” Mira laughed “One learns to survive when among vultures.” “This???” He pointed curiously at the root in her hand. “My little gift for you.” She walked back into the kitchen and came back with a whole bunch. “For helping me take revenge with the price.” Mira giggled innocently. Samuel watched the innocence with the affection of an elder while Oden returned with an expression to say he escaped from the clutches of hell but soon changed to an indifferent expression as he realized Samuel’s sizing gaze was on him. “But what will I do with this?” Samuel looked helplessly at the roots. He had not seen them before. “Then how about I make something delicious for you while you wait? Do you have time?” Mira smiled “This is the first crop; we were going to harvest during the
The next morning, Mira was busy with preparing the 5 rabbits Jack had skinned for a rabbit stew when she heard the cacophony of chatter from the front. She didn’t wait for the voices to become clear and ran to the barn where Jack was cleaning. “Someone’s outside.” She gasped, her eyes reflecting her fear. Jack had finished cleaning and was washing his hands and feet. He quickened his pace. He came up to her and hugged her comfortingly “I am here.” “It must be Big brother and second brother.” Jack chuckled to lighten her mood when he saw that she was still shaking. “No… no…” Mira shook her head “There’s many …. Many people.” “Let’s go take a look then.” Jack kissed her forehead and comforted “This is our house. I am here.” “Um” Mira nodded, regaining her composure; She raised her head and smiled sheepishly. Jack hugged her closer chuckling ‘His wife was too cute!’ The doorbell rang by the time they came into the kitchen. Mira’s face blushed further as she recognized the thunder
After everyone left Mira and Jack went to check on the traps that they had set. Heavens were truly merciful. Four of the traps had pheasants in them. Jack carefully took them out of the trap and handed them to Mira who threw them in space. The rest of the week went blissfully with Mira completing the work on the three cloths for Almera’s sister-in-law. But it was not the same for others. Jason was wholeheartedly playing the dutiful fiancé while keeping Alina happy. Alina on the other hand managed to recruit Lotta into her web. At first it was a harmless catch up; they had a common ground, were both illegitimate children who couldn’t share the glory of the light of day. Slowly, Alina started enticing her into the web by telling her sob story of how the one man she loved had his heart stolen by Mira and then how she mercilessly ditched him. Lotta could relate. Being an illegitimate child, she could never have what she wanted and had to be content with what was given to her. From the ti
Mira seemed to be stuck in her nightmare. She woke up the next day on the cold ground of the apartment. The same spot she fainted at the day before when Jason kicked her down. She knew she couldn’t wait for Jason and had to get someone to help her father. The first person she thought of was her godfather even though she hadn’t spoken to him in years. Although her godfather had the façade of a farmer, she knew that, that was not all he was about. She borrowed money from her neighbors who were also her companions in the last 6 months. Although they were also scrapping the bottom of the bowl to make ends meet, none of them hesitated to lend Mira all the coins they had even though they knew that Mira would never be able to pay them back. What they didn't know was, that this was the last time they would see her. It was said that the onlookers understood better; Yes, they understood the fallacy of Mira’s lover’s love, but they weren’t heartless to point it out and tear the poor girl’s he
“Let’s head downstairs??” Baldwin hooked his eyebrows as he looked at Jack before shifting his gaze towards Cornelius.“Does it matter…” Thomas hooked his eyebrows challengingly “I mean now that we have stocked up our arsenal and are ready to battle?”Orseus had an expression of agreement; he didn’t think that there was a need for secrecy anymore. They were ready to strike.Corenlius knitted his brows unable to make up his mind one way or the other when Jack opened his mouth “Let’s head downstairs. We are not ready; we still have loose ends.”Although both Orseus and Thomas looked unconvinced, they still headed downstairs towards the study without arguing verbally. Everyone, including John and Beth, followed.“Summon Carl.” Jack instructed Harrison on his way downstairs “I have something I need to discuss with him.”Harrison nodded and went to deliver the message.Lazarus left his right-handed man outside the study to bring Carl inside when he arrived, before heading inside, to follow
Everyone waited outside the room while Leal, Cornelius, Baldwin and Caleb entered the room along with Emeralda and Jerome.“Lie down.” Esmeralda had a faint smile as she requested. It had been more than a decade since she saw their young master; even though he didn’t remember them, her inner world was peaceful. They had found each other, they were halfway…. It wouldn’t be long.She sat by his side, concentrating on the examination once she was able to quieten the noises from her inner excitement. She frowned as she realized that although he appeared to be fit from his physical appearance, the information she gathered from his examination was not so promising.Her brows knitted further as the examination continued, raising the anxiety of the men who were standing in the room observing Esmeralda. While Leal and Caleb stood still like pillars, regardless of their clenched fists and knitted brows, both Corenlius and Baldwin started pacing in the room unable to stand still.“How is it?” Th
Caleb wasn’t far off with his prediction although the healer's arrival had nothing to do with his message. The healer and a hooded man arrived at Southamberston Duchy late evening of the same day. Everyone was resting in their rooms when Harrison announced their arrival to Jack; Jack asked Harrison to clear the hall of everyone and to inform the others as he went down to the lounge area to greet his old friends. “Venerable one…” Jack greeted as he always did, without the airs of his newly found status. The healer narrowed her eyes as looked at Jack; she didn’t have her usual airy, fairy daze but this time, her gaze was sharp, like that of an eagle, before her lips slowly curled up and she knelt on one knee “Esmeralda greets the young marquess.” She had noted the Butler clearing everyone away from this area and the young commander circling with his men, she knew that there were no more prying eyes around them. The only thing she didn’t anticipate was the audience that was coming dow
Mira kept scolding and kicking the man, without showing the slightest hint of stopping or displeasure from touching his already bloodied body; the truth was, she was trembling in anger, her eyes red with rage, barely attentive to notice the state the man was in. Jack was stunned for a minute before he rushed after her and held her back in his embrace as he coaxed her, shamelessly boasting “Wife, I am fine. Look…. Do you think his three-legged skills are enough to harm me?” “Wife, calm down… let Lazarus deal with him.” Jack held her tightly in his embrace; he could feel her trembling in his embrace and his heart ached for her; although no one in the room knew, he knew why that statement triggered her so much. She had told him about her past life memories. Matthew and Harry had a helpless expression while everyone else other than Thomas and Almera had their mouths agape as they saw Mira in action. Thomas didn’t have time to admire Mira’s gallantry; he was busy soothing his wife who wa
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward an
Jack and Mira, along with the rest of their group, dragged their exhausted bodies and reached Southamberston palace at the break of dawn. Without making any noise, they all went to their respective rooms without any fuss. Everyone had a room at Southamberston palace even though they each had cottages specially prepared for them; both Martin and Oden went to the rooms that were prepared for them instead of their cottage.Early morning was unusually noisy with many unfamiliar faces around the breakfast table and yet it was as if no one noticed the familiarity of the unfamiliar faces at the table; the only exception was the three unfamiliar unfriendly faces as they sat through the farce as though they were watching a show and not part of it.Almera and Katherine joined them shortly after breakfast, as noisy as ever with Almera complaining that her husband didn’t love her anymore and that he was in love with his first wife, the estate responsibilities and that she always came second.First
Jack and Mira rushed back without stopping; their pace was originally fast, but it became even more rushed after they received John’s message which wasn’t much, just a short line written in a shaky hand ‘Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’.Don’t misunderstand the shaky hand, it wasn’t fear… It was just John trying to write in his best hand. But unfortunately, it was bound to be misunderstood, due to John’s years of acting, acting timid, which was more believable for his son and nephew, more believable than his daring persona.Thomas had just entered his palace when his page rushed in and announced that he had a note from Southamberston and passed the note. It was the same note that was sent to Jack, written in the same shaky hand, 'Matthew and Harry are back with three visitors’. However, it evoked an entirely different expression from Thomas.Thomas stood up excitedly as he reached for his cloak that he had just hung up; he wrapped it around as he walked and called out to
Back at Southamberston, by late afternoon, a travel weary Matthew and Harry had arrived back at Southamberston with three additional unfamiliar men who were covered from head to toe, leaving only sharp eaglelike eyes.Without Harrison’s calm balancing act, the household was on the verge of being thrown into chaos when Beth walked in, in a hurry, ushered in by one of the maids who was flustered.The chaos resulted from the fact that there were three strangers who looked suspicious; the imaginative minds of the young staff who worked at the castle had worked themselves up with a theory they had concocted.Their theory was that the two elders who had gone to relax were held hostage, and they were unable to escape and were brought back here for the young Duke to save them; but the young duke wasn’t here; even Lazarus and Harrison weren’t here.The young maid who ran over to call Beth and gasped, almost out of breath “Lady…. Lady… Lady Beth, the elders have been held hostages by three sinis