A Wager Of The Heart

16. Wait, I'm in charge?

:::Kent:::

I smiled again as I played the scene from the night before over in my mind. Charity with her head back and laughing, it had been her laughter that irked me into action. She was surprising receptive of my attention and I felt confident once more. My mind stilled on the image of her just after I broke away, I had intended to extend the pleasure of her lips but the sound that escaped her made me tremble with meed and I didn't want to push too far. Her skin shone in the moonlight, her lips parted and her eyes dazed. She was every ounce as beautiful as anything I'd ever seen.

I smiled again and brought my mind forward. It would be an easy thing now to woo this dark beauty, not that she's given even a small part of herself to me. I took the ruby right from my desk and examined it, wondering if I should do as Charity suggested and offer it to Geraldine. But I shook my head. I had procured it for Charity, I would just have to wait a while longer before I offered it again.

She had been right in a way when she said after one line women would be living up to be my mistress. Since it was what I wanted I never considered their motivations or feelings before. I did not have to, I didn't need their feelings. I needed their bodies. I laughed as I considered the many women who probably joined me for no other reason than the trinkets men bestow upon them. I had wasted enough of my father's money to understand it was a lucrative business. 

I knew this game of chasing was only going to be fun while I had the upper hand. At other times it would be brutal and I would have to keep my ultimate goal in mind in those moments. I tossed the ring into one of the many drawers of my desk and stared blankly at the accounting sheet my father had placed in front of me some days earlier. Something about learning to manage a business. I pushed it away in distaste, little did my father know it but I won't be managing anything more than raising my head from my pillow at the end of the summer.

I stood and paced to the window, delighted to see the beautiful day that awaited me. I heard the knock on the door and turned my head to acknowledge my mother entering my personal study. "Where is Preston?" I asked, not moving from the window. From the corner of my eye I could just make out Charity and Geraldine sitting with Amelia. "Is he still too angry to speak to me?" I asked innocently as I finally gave her my full attention.

Edith sat in a tan travelling outfit as she stared at me. "Your father will come around in time." She said absently waving her hand at me. "You should apologize and you know it but that would be like asking the mountain to bow in submission."

I smiled at her analogy and nodded. "Besides we both know he is in the wrong or you would have made me apologize no matter how I felt about it."

"Kent!" Edith said incredulously as I am and sat across from her. "What you did to Geraldine was unforgivably rude and you should apologize to her."

"I have," I said, "often."

Edith smiled and patted my knee. "She really is a sweet girl, you should give her a chance."

"I am." I said pointedly. "The fact that she hasn't left here screaming is proof enough that I am trying." My mother gave me a steely look but did not broach the subject further. After a moment of silence I asked, "What brings you to my find prison?"

She shot me a warning look and elaborated. "Your father and I are taking Amelia into town. Your father has business there and I have to get Amelia properly attired for this ball that Geraldine's grandmother is hosting."

"Are my shackles to be removed so that I might attend as well?" I asked, trying to aggravate her. 

She smiled and winked at me. "Nice try, young man." She paused for a moment and then considered me. "You are a guest of honor, of course you will be attending."

I smiled, trying to push my advantage. "May I go into town as well, it's been ages since I've attended a house party and I want to look my best for my dear grandmother."

Edith smiled knowingly at me but shook her head. "I will bring the seamstress here and she can take your measurements, if need be."

I grimaced as I remembered the pushy and mean older woman. "No thank you, I'm sure I have something that will work. What am I to do until you return?" I asked forlornly for which I received a playful smack "You came here for a reason?" I asked again.

Finally Edith relented and locked me in her gaze. "You are to take my afternoon time with Geraldine and make it yours. I expect you to entertain both Bastion and Geraldine. I thought Bastion would like to fish again, he's rarely spoken of anything else."

I rolled my eyes. "Fishing mother? Wouldn't it be kinder to ask me to cut off my own fingers. Surely that would be more entertaining."

Edith laughed and rose to her feet. "It won't be as bad as that. Come now, I've told them to expect you."

I sighed and rose to my feet. "I shall be there in a moment, I must speak with Rivers and procure the fishing equipment."

My mother nodded and we both left the room, heading in separate ways. I walked swiftly to find Rivers in the older man's office. I entered without knocking and received a glare in return. I smiled, unrepentant, and sat down across from him uninvited. "Afternoon Rivers," I said nonchalantly as I crossed my arms behind my head and leaned back. "I come with a change of plans."

"How so?" Rivers asked icily.

"My mother and Preston are leaving and have left me in charge of the entertainment." Rivers winced and my smile broadened. :Ill need at least three women for myself and one each for Brandan and Bastion as well as a couple for my Lady and her delectable maid." Rivers eyes bulged and he opened his mouth to speak but I continued anyway. "As a matter of fact, make the maid one of my three if you would."

Rivers sputtered in indignation for a moment before he found his voice amongst his outrage. "I will do no such thing." He exclaimed loudly.

I laughed and rose to my feet. "Excellent, then can you simply deliver the fishing equipment to the garden when I now go to meet my party?" I chortled again at his shocked face and left the room.