The Compromise

Chapter 7 - A Matter Of Heritage (II)

Duke had finally been called upon by the Grand Duke of Devonshire, the alleged William Cavendish. Duke had read up on him, like all his clients and had done so further when Missi had struck up their little arrangement. Well he had, but they were minor details.

It was common knowledge that the Duke had a inkling with one of the guests in his care, Elizabeth Foster. His trysts with the woman were not unheard of. Duke himself found it disgusting- down right despicable. He would not put through his wife through such torture- to send her spiralling into madness. The Cavendish man had had plenty of time to explore and experience those illicit affairs before he had married Georgiana - it was no wonder why she always seemed so stressed, even I had only met her a couple of times.

He found it ironic that he was - well almost 'courting' Missi. If he had met her under different circumstances, had a proper marriage, he wouldn't ever drag up or start new relations with any other woman or man, not at least without divorcing first. Keeping anyone chained into a loveless marriage was disgraceful. He could see why Missi wished to leave so badly.

Duke struggled to keep a firm grasp on his facial expressions as he walked down the hallway to the mans office.

It was late evening now, the sun had dipped below the horizon, taking its hot rays with it, leaving a wintery chill behind. Ice had already began to set in and snow would surely follow. It would be a cold winter, not that it bothered him, nothing much did.

He thought back to the events earlier that morn, something had crawled and clawed its way into his stomach when he had visited Missi's study. The feeling that persisted him when he thought of that moment - that bothered him.

He stood adjace the oak door, eyeing it distastefully as he rasped his knuckles against it, hoping that this little talk would end swiftly and smoothly.

The door open to reveal the man, a head smaller than himself and a plumping frame. He held a smile as he allowed him entry but it did not reach his eyes. Duke returned one of his own.

"Ah please come in, it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine," Duke replies in a steady tone.

It really wasn't.

The two moved towards the allocated chairs within the room, settling themselves in as the Cavendish man called upon one of his servants to pour them tea.

"I apologise for my absence this morning."

He really couldn't care less.

"That is fine, I just wanted to introduce myself and ask a couple of questions. Is that okay with you?" William took a small sip of his tea, eyes turning serious as they trained into him.

"Completely."

'Only depending on what you ask.'

Duke kept his snide comments to himself as he sipped his tea. He needs to be flawless - near perfect for this man's approval. It's not hard either. His position as the first heir of their family's profitable business put him on level with the sons of other Lords - those with strong routes and intertwined with the King's court.

"My daughter seems quite fond of you, my wife tells me the two of you hit it off at the function a week ago." The statement was left open, open to what Duke might say- a good strategy to get caught out on. William was a smart man indeed but it didn't fool him.

"Yes, I enjoyed my time there splendidly. It was good to meet someone so like minded." Partially

"And did she speak out of tone? I'm terribly sorry if she had offended you in anyway." William actually looked worried, she could topple his position with a single word.