motion his backup plan. His
father was of a superstitious nature, and it would only aid his sister.
His father swiped his sleeve over
his mouth, sitting forward. “Nathaniel, do you speak of witchery?”
“If she gets with child, her
children will be insane. She will probably become maddened herself. Darkness
would befall us all.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I heard
stories of such happenings between relations. Do ye think that could happen?”
“Aye, I do. Ye should consider such
before you give her to him. He’ll drive her mad and she will wreak havoc on
your home. Do you really want that to happen?”
“If she’s with child, she could verily
be going mad.” His father’s head rose, looking toward the steps. His eyes
widened.
“Aye, what then?” Nate tried to
sway his father’s trepidation. “She will be wrath and cause ye much tragedy and
misfortune. Mayhap darkness has befallen?”
Nigel laughed at his conversation
with their father. “Father, you’ll have to send her to Fairview Asylum. You’ll
not want a deranged woman in our household.”
Nathaniel stood, knocking his chair
backward. How could he suggest such a thing? “Father, if ye send her there,
she’ll not return. No one has ever seen the girls sent there again. Nay, don’t
listen to Nigel. Ye should send her to our aunt’s. She will trouble ye no
further.”
“The girl cannot stay here. I’ll
not have someone with lunacy in my keep nor interfering with your brother’s
training. Aye, ‘tis time she was sent away.”
“Father, I implore ye, she won’t go
mad. He’s trying to get her for himself,” Nigel said.
“I’ve made my decision. Nigel, find
another girl to couple with. You’ll both stay away from her. I must have the
two lecherous sons in England,” his father muttered in disgust.
“Father, I’ve never wanted Issy
like that. She’s my sister and I care for her.” Nathaniel gave a repulsive look
at his brother.
“I’ll not have her affecting ye. My
decision is made.” His father banged the table, and strode from the hall.
“You played right into my hands. I
tell you, Nate, when father dies, you’ll be the first idiot I rid myself of.”
“You can certainly try, Nigel. You’re
a bastard for hurting our sister like that. At least I’ve been able to convince
father not to let you have her.”
“Yeah, but she’s going to the
asylum, the perfect place for her. I’m jealous of the keeper there,” he baited.
“He will have sporting fun. Mayhap I’ll visit once in a while and avail
myself—”
Nathaniel struck his mouth to cut
off his vile remark. “You’re a whoreson, Nigel. I should kill you. If you
weren’t my brother, I would.”
“Damn ye, Nathaniel.” Nigel licked
the blood on the side of his mouth. “You’ll pay for that.” He rubbed his chin
and left the hall.
Nathaniel watched him leave. He
hoped he had given him more than a bloody lip, like a loose tooth or a cut on
his loathsome tongue. Though Nigel was the sovereign son, Nate was bigger, and
more intelligent. His brother couldn’t best him in a fight. One day Nate would
make his brother pay for his wrongdoings, every single one of them. He had
planned his revenge, and sooner or later the day would come when he could
inflict it.
*****
Isabel closed the door behind
Nathaniel and was disheartened by what he’d told her. She couldn’t believe the
conversation he’d had with their father. She did laugh about Nate’s ploy on her
father’s superstitious nature, but she doubted it would help much.
A fortnight had passed since Isabel
locked herself in her chamber. As promised, Nathaniel had the maids bring her
food, but he wasn’t able to give Russell her note to deliver to Candace. Russ
had been sent to another keep with messages her father needed delivered. She
despaired, until she’d heard the maids talking about Russ’ return this very
day.
She became lonely waiting for Nate
to find someone to take her message to
father was of a superstitious nature, and it would only aid his sister.
His father swiped his sleeve over
his mouth, sitting forward. “Nathaniel, do you speak of witchery?”
“If she gets with child, her
children will be insane. She will probably become maddened herself. Darkness
would befall us all.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I heard
stories of such happenings between relations. Do ye think that could happen?”
“Aye, I do. Ye should consider such
before you give her to him. He’ll drive her mad and she will wreak havoc on
your home. Do you really want that to happen?”
“If she’s with child, she could verily
be going mad.” His father’s head rose, looking toward the steps. His eyes
widened.
“Aye, what then?” Nate tried to
sway his father’s trepidation. “She will be wrath and cause ye much tragedy and
misfortune. Mayhap darkness has befallen?”
Nigel laughed at his conversation
with their father. “Father, you’ll have to send her to Fairview Asylum. You’ll
not want a deranged woman in our household.”
Nathaniel stood, knocking his chair
backward. How could he suggest such a thing? “Father, if ye send her there,
she’ll not return. No one has ever seen the girls sent there again. Nay, don’t
listen to Nigel. Ye should send her to our aunt’s. She will trouble ye no
further.”
“The girl cannot stay here. I’ll
not have someone with lunacy in my keep nor interfering with your brother’s
training. Aye, ‘tis time she was sent away.”
“Father, I implore ye, she won’t go
mad. He’s trying to get her for himself,” Nigel said.
“I’ve made my decision. Nigel, find
another girl to couple with. You’ll both stay away from her. I must have the
two lecherous sons in England,” his father muttered in disgust.
“Father, I’ve never wanted Issy
like that. She’s my sister and I care for her.” Nathaniel gave a repulsive look
at his brother.
“I’ll not have her affecting ye. My
decision is made.” His father banged the table, and strode from the hall.
“You played right into my hands. I
tell you, Nate, when father dies, you’ll be the first idiot I rid myself of.”
“You can certainly try, Nigel. You’re
a bastard for hurting our sister like that. At least I’ve been able to convince
father not to let you have her.”
“Yeah, but she’s going to the
asylum, the perfect place for her. I’m jealous of the keeper there,” he baited.
“He will have sporting fun. Mayhap I’ll visit once in a while and avail
myself—”
Nathaniel struck his mouth to cut
off his vile remark. “You’re a whoreson, Nigel. I should kill you. If you
weren’t my brother, I would.”
“Damn ye, Nathaniel.” Nigel licked
the blood on the side of his mouth. “You’ll pay for that.” He rubbed his chin
and left the hall.
Nathaniel watched him leave. He
hoped he had given him more than a bloody lip, like a loose tooth or a cut on
his loathsome tongue. Though Nigel was the sovereign son, Nate was bigger, and
more intelligent. His brother couldn’t best him in a fight. One day Nate would
make his brother pay for his wrongdoings, every single one of them. He had
planned his revenge, and sooner or later the day would come when he could
inflict it.
*****
Isabel closed the door behind
Nathaniel and was disheartened by what he’d told her. She couldn’t believe the
conversation he’d had with their father. She did laugh about Nate’s ploy on her
father’s superstitious nature, but she doubted it would help much.
A fortnight had passed since Isabel
locked herself in her chamber. As promised, Nathaniel had the maids bring her
food, but he wasn’t able to give Russell her note to deliver to Candace. Russ
had been sent to another keep with messages her father needed delivered. She
despaired, until she’d heard the maids talking about Russ’ return this very
day.
She became lonely waiting for Nate
to find someone to take her message to
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