THE HEIRESS (Sample)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I found the largest one!” cried a voice. The other working men digging the ground immediately straightened up to see what the noise was all about.

Lord William who was in a tent close-by, his legs crossed on the tabletop , smoking his pipe, stood up to see what the ruckus was all about and why did the sound of the digging tools had stopped and why the workers stood idle.

He saw an average man running towards him. He looked filthy, his face and clothes stained and his hands and wrists soiled with mud. He was holding something in his right hand when he finally reached him with pride on his face.

“What is the noise all about, you nincompoop?” Lord Williams asked angrily.

“Look what I found, milord!” The man presented a diamond almost as big as his fist, grinning and revealing yellow teeth of which some were missing at the sides of his mouth.

Lord William let the pipe hang at the side of his mouth as he took the diamond from the man. “Leave... I will make sure a token is added to your pay for this lucky find.”

“Thank you sir.” The man bowed low and left while the other workers quickly returned to work after the icy glare from Lord William but they were after a quest to also find their lucky diamond apart from the smaller ones that have occasionally been discovered.

Lord William moved farther into the tent, took a magnifying glass and examined the sparkling mud-stained jewel as he held it between the tips of his thumb and index fingers.

“That’s quite a fortune!” someone said.

Lord William spun around, startled. “Lord Eugene!”

“William.” The older man stepped into the tent.

“You should know better than to sneak up on me like that.”

“I did not sneak up on you.” The Marquess stated as he sat down on the available seat. “Let’s just say that you were carried away by that treasure in your hand and didn't notice me come in.” He squinted as he gazed at the workers and land they were working on.

“A busy day I guess. We might get lucky and have more of that found in due time.”

“Need I remind you that there is no us. This is my Mine!” said Lord William coolly, putting the diamond in a small chest and tucking it away.

The Marquess smiled slightly. “The duchess entrusting her late husband’s Mine into your hands doesn’t make it yours! She’s still alive, remember?” he stared at him under bushy grey brows.

“She will soon!” he withdrew the pipe from his mouth.

“I made an incredible offer to her to sell the Mine to me but the strong-headed woman bluntly threw my generous offer to the wind which is why I am backing you up because I am counting on you to keep to your promise when the time comes which I am hoping will be soon.” Said the Marquess.

“Well, the time is yet to come and I’m running out of patience!” Lord William stated wearily.

“You are not alone in this, son! Victory shall be ours.”

“That victory seems to be crawling.” He leaned on a high cupboard. “How does your wife fare?”

“The Marquess frowned. “She yet lost the baby again.”

“That’s quite an unpleasant news, I sympathize with your loss of yet another heir, Lord Eugene.”

The Marquess shrugged lightly. “I am thinking of keeping a mistress...” He said. “Someone to bear me children secretly. I am not getting any younger and Ophelia, I heard, passed away eight years ago... I know not what became of my son.”

“You chose to send her out to the streets when you should have simply taken up your responsibility and be a father. Your son, who knows... might be dead too.”

The Marquess dabbed at his wrinkled brow with a handkerchief. “I beseech you not to remind me of the ignorant decisions I made in the past which I now very much regret.” He said gravely. “The deed is done and done it is. It’s not late for an old man to try again. I need an heir and I dread to be in the Duchess' shoes where another not of my blood will inherit my wealth.”

Lord Williams frowned at the indirect insult and quickly composed himself.
“Why don’t we visit the brothel today? You need soft tender expert hands to knead your old bones. Don't worry” he exhaled a ring of smoke into the air “The bill is on me.”

The Marquess smiled. “You sure know how to turn a bad day good for an old man”
Lord William spread his arms. “I am generous, simply generous!”

“As long as I find me a mistress willing to bear me a child secretly, my troubles are sorted. An heir is all I seek...”

“I will sure keep your little secret from your wife...Just helping a desperate old man” uttered lord Williams. "Just keep this from the rumour mongers, gossip travels faster than birds these days and that might ruin your respectable reputation.”

The Marquess stroked his grey beard in thought. “I have thought of that too... but I believe it will go just fine.”

“Shall we?” Lord William regarded the opening of the tent with his arm. The Marquess nodded and stood up.