“Stunted?” Thomas jerked. “Do you mean crippled?”
“If that is what you’d like to call it, yes. That twisted leg of hers couldn’t be used for nothing good, but she could have still had a life.”
Thomas didn’t dare to think… could it really be? He wouldn’t come to a conclusion. Not yet.
“Yes, I tell you,” the man reiterated forcefully now facing Thomas “Phillip took over and laid off many people close to Peter and those that remained, he used them like machines until they can’t take it anymore, but I stayed.”
“It is a good thing you did,” Thomas muttered under his breath but old man Oliver heard him.
“It is a curse I do not wish on my enemy,” he shot at Thomas. “I used to think Phillip was a devil. It was the reason I stayed, hoping I would outlive him so a fine young man might marry his daughter and probably inherit the business. But I found out a little too late she was also a spawn of Satan.”
Rebecca—
“So, you mean to say this establishment wasn’t inherited by Phillip after the real owners died?” he asked to be sure.
“Exactly, mate,” the man affirmed. “Even though Phillip always bragged of how he saved this business from bankruptcy, I know it is a lie. The business was doing fine when Peter was alive and happy. We were all happy, he would visit our homes during holidays carrying his daughter in his arms while his beautiful wife tailed him.”
Thomas consoled the irate Oliver until he calmed down. Once he’d gotten himself together, Oliver asked, “Do you still have any questions to ask me?”
Thomas thought about it for a second then he asked, “How do you think he was able to acquire Peter’s wealth after he died?”
“Simple,” he whispered, leaning in closer to Thomas who also met him halfway.
“He inherited nothing. Nothing, I tell you. That evil good-for-nothing Duke of Ruxbell must have forged a document to lay claim to all his property,” he paused to look around again. “Either that or something even more fishy went on that no one knows about.”
Oliver didn’t have to clarify. Thomas knew what he meant. The old man looked sad and thoughtful. Thomas had done enough bringing back memories the man might have wanted buried.
“I will leave you to it now. Thank you,” Thomas expressed.
There was so much for Thomas to think about but one thing remained certain. Peter was the real owner of the property that Phillip lay claim to. How he was able to get it was the key to finding out what really happened to the deceased.
The sun was already setting by the time he climbed on his horse. Even though the man seemed candid with his story, he wouldn’t take the story to be the whole truth. After all, he was just a stranger who had a story to match the money he was given. Even with that, he couldn’t help but think about what he was told.
What happened to you, Peter? What really happened? He questioned feeling closer to the answer he sought.
As the wind grazed his face making his hair flutter, he smiled. He had been so engrossed with what he heard that he hadn’t thought about Mary Ann. Now that his mind was reminded of her, she was the bliss he could think about.
He was confident that James would take care of her. But he wanted to be by her side as quickly as possible.
Chapter 28
The fragrance from the budding leaves filled the boulevard as the wind blew dust around. The sun was halfway past the horizon.
Unlike the time she was in the countryside, people in the city seemed engrossed in themselves.
Who would have thought I would be exonerated so quickly?
It had happened so quickly that she was unable to wrap her head around it. She was taking her lunch in her room when Rebecca’s servant barged inside with James following not long after.
“Lady Rebecca ordered that you should be released,” Rebecca’s servant declared.
Without waiting for response, he spun, almost knocking James down as he exited her room. She was already joyous hearing this news when James spoke again.
“His Grace is back and he has a request,” he told Mary Ann when they were alone.
“What is it?” she asked curiously.
“He asked that you meet him by the stream at sundown.”
Mary Ann was joyous at this. She wanted nothing to more than to see Thomas and now she was going to.
She couldn’t help but look around in awe as she left. After all, it was her first time walking a street in the town. A group of finely dressed ladies giggled as a huge man with a well-trimmed and fancy mustache rode by. The merchants whose donkeys were pushing various types of merchandise; sea food, foreign food and clothing, some even were advertising lucky charms.
“A lucky charm for the fine lady,” one of the man called out.
She didn’t want to stop but the man was so hard to ignore.
“Come on, this is precisely what you are looking for, I know that in my heart,” the man uttered again.
The man was quite persuasive and he was hard to ignore. But deep inside, she also wanted to hear the man out.
A minute stop won’t hurt, will it?
She turned and walked toward the man who smiled at her with his tobacco stained-teeth.
“Young Miss, what do you desire?” he asked still smiling, “Love? Fame? Wealth? Anything this lucky charm can get you.”
He began to explain how he had to travel to the Asia and spent almost half his fortune to get just a few.
“By wearing this, you will see all your dreams come true,” he declared using his hands to form an arch.
Mary Ann might be from the countryside but she was no fool. She looked around at the goods before politely turning away without buying a thing.
“How about I make you a deal?” the man called after her.
A deal? She faced him again.
“If you decide to get this beautiful necklace, I will sell the lucky charm to you for half the price,” he told her as he pulled another necklace to her face.
Mary Ann once again politely declined the offer as she went on her way. The journey didn’t take more than five minutes. She took the shortcut downhill until she could see the stream from afar. When she looked around, there was no one there but she continued her stroll. Ever since Thomas had suggested they meet by the stream; it was all her mind could focus on.
As she stepped closer to the stream, her mind swayed to the time they spent in her room. How loving, gentle yet firm he was in holding and touching her. Just thinking of it made her chest grow tight with longing. Just as this was going on, she saw the back view of a man.
Thomas was wearing the same brown clothing he wore when they left the countryside. His gaze seemed so fixed on the water that he didn’t notice Mary Ann sneak up on him. She tiptoed closer to him discreetly, holding her arms open to scare him.
“If you want to push me into the water,” he drawled, “you’ve lost your chance.”
“No,” she smiled. “That was not what I was planning to do. Not until now, at least.”
It was then that Thomas turned and she was able to see the reason he had been so transfixed the waters.
“It is so good to see you. I was already worried you would not be able to come,” he told her, his voice tender.
Their gaze met for the first time and Mary Ann was taken aback before returning the smile. Even though he looked very stressed from the journey, he was still as calm and sweet as he used to be. Thomas rose to his feet and hugged her tightly, holding her by the waist before pushing his hands down to her bottom.
“Don’t make a habit of that,” Mary Ann teased.
“What?” Thomas asked acting oblivious of what she meant.
“You know what,” Mary Ann said.
She had left her bonnet at home which made it possible for her to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Oh! Fair Lady, do you mean this?” he asked as he pressed her bottom gently before pulling her even closer to his groin.
“Yes, that,” she giggled. “But do
you know what?” She leaned close to his ear, as if she wished to tell him a secret.
“What is that?” Thomas inquired.
“I love the way you hold me,” Mary Ann let out confidently.
“What about this?” Thomas motioned to kiss her but she seemed reluctant.
“Don’t worry. I don’t look anything like the Duke in this attire and no one ever comes here,” he elucidated.
“No one?” Mary Ann asked unconvinced.
“I have been coming here since I was a boy and I can count the number of people I have encountered here with just one hand. People prefer to go further down about a hundred yards from here.”
Mary Ann took a long look at him, then nodded. His claim, even though it seemed greatly exaggerated, was persuasive enough for her to lean in to kiss him. She wanted to ask about his journey but decided to wait for him to bring it up. Instead, she fixed her mind on the present moment.
This is just perfect, I never want this to end, she told herself just as Thomas spun her around lifting her off the ground and putting her back down.
They sat down after this and gazed at the stream without saying a word. Even then, the silence was not an uncomfortable one. It was far more calming and at that moment, nothing seemed to make Mary Ann happier than feeling the heat of the one she had fallen head over heels for against her body.
“Have you ever caught any fish here?” she asked, even though she was fairly certain that wasn’t a task noblemen enjoyed much.
“No, the fish by now would be downstream where children would be trying to catch them,” he told her.
“I have always wanted to learn how to catch fish,” Mary Ann told him as she placed her head on his shoulder while Thomas leaned toward her to make it more relaxing.
“It is a good thing you have me here,” Thomas declared in his boastful tone. Thomas asked about her day as he listened with rapt attention. As she kept on talking, she noticed the distant look again. It disappeared as quickly as it came but it was beginning to get her worried.
“Thomas?” she called, cutting her rambling short. She grabbed his hands and noticed they were cold. They stared into each other’s eyes, before Thomas began to tell her about his journey.
“So, what are we going to do now?” Mary Ann inquired when Thomas was done telling her all that Oliver said.
“I don’t know. Perhaps I will pay Phillip a visit, I will ask about his business and see what he has to say,” Thomas told her.
Mary Ann gave him a strange look. “You don’t have to go far this time,” she said.
“What do you mean?” Thomas inquired.
“Phillip,” she stated. “He is here in the manor to check up on Rebecca. I heard he came rushing down here to see her.”
“It will make things easy for me then,” Thomas declared satisfactorily before speaking again.
“I don’t want them to suspect anything,” he explained. “And if we must do this, I should do this alone for now. I’m concerned for your safety.”
Mary Ann nodded. She was used to fighting her own battles, but she knew that Thomas was too. And this was something she wouldn’t be able to handle. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, getting noticed with Thomas might do more harm to him than it would to her, especially as his marriage to Rebecca drew nearer.
“Understood, Your Grace,” she teased.
“When we are out there, I’m Your Grace, but here, it’s just Thomas,” he corrected lightheartedly and they both laughed at this.
“You are such a priceless jewel,” he hugged Mary Ann squeezing her tightly against his body before letting her go. “Speaking of jewels, I got something for you.”
In his hand was a necklace that was embellished with five pearls of different colors. “A gift for you,” he told her.
Mary Ann took it from him, not knowing what to say. It was certainly the most precious thing she’d ever held in her hands, let alone call her own. Thomas smiled as he took it from her and helped her to put it on, laying the beautiful gem between her bosom. It was more beautiful than she had thought but after assessing it, she pulled it off.
“I cannot take this,” she told him, “I cannot go around wearing this, people will think I stole it or worse, think that I’m having an affair with you.”
Thomas nodded in agreement. He pulled out another necklace that looked cheaper than the one around Mary Ann’s neck.
“How about this? I got two for you. You can wear this anywhere without fear but keep this with you, until the time is right,” he told her.
Mary Ann was unsure what he meant at first, the poor lighting outside made it impossible to see all that was in his hand. So, she moved closer, to see that he was now holding another necklace. The moment she held it in her hand, she recognized it immediately. It was one of the necklaces the merchant was insisting on selling to her.
How did he know I wanted this?
But she didn’t allow her thoughts to taint her last minutes with Thomas, as she felt his warm breath behind her when he helped with the necklace.
This is bliss, she closed her eyes, smiling, I am in heaven.
When Thomas walked before her to see how it looked on her, Mary Ann hugged him in gratitude. As they pulled away, she closed her eyes in delight when his lips met with hers. It pleased her more when Thomas placed his hands on the back of her thighs while kissing her. He pulled his hands further up until it reached her waist. Then, slowly, he pushed his weight against her until she was lying on her back.
They kissed with Thomas now fondling with her breasts. The dwarf tree beside them was a perfect cover. It not only made it difficult for them to be seen, but also make it easy for them to sight anyone coming from a distance. Her breathing had turned into gentle moans and her hands gently stroked Thomas’ hair.
Yes, yes, Thomas.
After a couple of minutes, her mind had turn wild from excitement with chills all over her body. Her eyes had been shut tight since Thomas started kissing her and by the time she opened them, their surroundings were much darker than she remembered.
“Thomas,” she muttered, then as if on cue Thomas pulled away gently.
They stayed in each other’s arm for another hour before they decided to walk back to the manor; separately so they wouldn’t be noticed.
Chapter 29
Thomas woke up feeling more energetic even though his night was filled with fitful sleep. This however, came at a price, a mild headache. Even though he was awake, he didn’t get up from his bed.
Since he came back from his journey, he couldn’t get rid of Oliver’s croaky voice.
“The real owner of this business aren’t the Egertones. Peter, Peter Allen owns this land, and the large estate Phillip lives in.”
He rolled to the other side of his bed gazing at the sunlight in the sky.
Mary Ann would be working by now.
He wanted to see her face; take solace in her embrace, but he decided against that. He had more pressing matters to attend to. After another hour, his door opened.
“Your Grace,” James greeted, moving closer to him.
“Yes, James,” he answered as they exchanged further pleasantries.
“Is anything the matter, Your Grace?” James uttered concerned.
Thomas didn’t say anything; he only looked into James eyes then looked away.
“No, there are just some things I need to attend to,” he voiced vaguely.
“Is it anything I can help you with, Your Grace?” James asked as Thomas raised his torso into a sitting position.
“I wish you could, but—”
“I understand,” James responded. “May I speak freely, Your Grace?”
Thomas nodded then looked away. James had been his butler for as long as he could remember. He was always silent to the things happening, except for a few times. Only then would he ask permission to speak with no restrictions.
“There are times in a man’s life when he finds himself at a crossroad,” James started.
/> Thomas spun his head to his face to give him his rapt attention.
“At that time, the only way out is to follow one’s heart.” James added.
“I know, Your Grace, I know it’s can be hard for people like you — a noble. Unlike commoners, nobles do not only think about their family, and wealth but also alliance and social class before making certain decisions,” James added.
Even though, so far, it hadn’t been on his mind it dawned on him that Rebecca would be his wife soon enough while Mary Ann—
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