Ties That Bind Us

Chapter Fifty (part 2): She's ruined them all.

Chapter Fifty (part 2): She's ruined them all.

Nicolas Montgomery

William Bartley held open the door to his office. The weak smile that was on his lips fell as he looked to the boy beside me. "Nicolas, my boy, we didn't ask that you brought a friend."

"A friend?" I heard my father repeat before he appeared towering over headmaster in the doorway. His eyes fell on Ambrose beside me. I watched as his gaze narrowed on him, a look of concern passing over his features. "Ambrose, I assure you that you don't have to be here."

"In fact, you are supposed to be in class," Headmaster Bartley spoke up.

I looked at Fox and saw him raise an eyebrow at Bartley. "If classes were worth going to I wouldn't be here, Headmaster. Yet, here I am and yet, I will be more knowledgeable than those that attend that class."

"What do you mean–"

"The teachers are incompetent," My father spat, angry at the situation and failing to hide it, "they always have been, William."

"They are the best in the country, Alistair. I beg of you to take back your word."

My father didn't say a word as he moved back into the office. Bartley followed him, taking a hesitant step towards his usual chair.

My father stood by the only window in the room. I looked towards the couch in the back of the room and then to the two chairs in front of Bartley. I didn't know what place would the best for an escape route. I hadn't planned that my father would be standing.

"Take a seat, Nicolas," my father ordered.

Ambrose walked by me to the couch. I raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded towards the chairs in front of Bartley. I didn't know if he was being his reckless self right now, but I knew he wouldn't throw this plan away. Not yet, anyway.

I took a seat in front of Headmaster Bartley and watched as my father stared out the window to the front of the school. "Ambrose, what do you think of Elliott Reynolds?"

I looked towards Ambrose who only shrugged at the question. "She's an enigma."

My father turned towards Ambrose, his eyes wondering over the boy at his description of my girl. "Do you see her as a potential wife?"

"For Nicolas, yes," Fox nodded.

"And for yourself."

"Father, what are you–"

"Not now, Nicolas," my father spat at me before he turned back to Ambrose, "Your family is struggling, Fox. I will offer you a sizeable amount in order to marry that girl. She is not a suitable woman for my son."

"Was that what grandfather told you about Alice?" I asked him, keeping my voice calm.

I knew that Ambrose was no threat to me. That he would never take the deal, even though his family is struggling. He cared for Elliott, that much he let show, but I knew that he didn't care for her how I did .

My father's head snapped towards me, his eyes dark and narrowed. "You do not speak her name, am I clear?"

"Why?" I asked him, "You are repeating history here, Father and I am not allowing Elliott to have the same fate of her mother. Did Alice even know about grandfather's offer?"

"I told you not to speak of her name, Nicolas. That is an order, follow it."

The barrel of a gun was pressed against my forehead. It was the same gun that had been placed there countless times before, but now the man holding his finger over the trigger had finally lost his composure.