CHAPTER 4:THE LETTER

September, 1712

Bridgebrock

The Grand duke of Bridgebrock arrived from his five years voyage with his wife, Lady Morgan from India.

All the servants expressed their gladness as they welcomed their master and mistress back home in ecstasy. Their son Lord Bryan prepared a grand feast to celebrate their return.

His mother hugged him so tightly, he could hardly breath.

"Mom, you are going strangle me to death." he teased her.

" Hash, you brat!,

his mother playfully beats him on the back. " My baby is now a man. " she said with joyful tears in her eyes.

The last she saw him was when Lord Bryan was 16,now a full grown man at 21.

" Give it a rest dear, " his father said

The Duke was truly proud of his son for the past five years, he has shown signs of great leadership and greatness. Not only had he manage to keep his home town in order but he had also succeed in becoming industrious and wealthy.

As the welcome party was going on, the Duke smiled at the humorous events as he was been entertained by pushy mothers who tried thrusting their daughters towards his son aiming for his attention. Some even tried to create matchmaking conversation with his helpless wife.

His son had made him the proudest man alive, being one of the prominent and most sought bachelor in Witherfall.

All he needs now is a family of his own, a good wife who would be his better half just like his beloved wife, especially now he had been appointed a personal adviser to the prince and a leader of the the Royal knights.

The occasion was a blissfully one.

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After a couple of days, his Butler give him letters sent to him while he was away... As he read through some were from his Estate manager, His clerk, Lawyer and business transactions  made while he was away. Satisfied by his son's progress so far, he mentally made a decision to hand over to his son, when he finds himself a wife. He studied few letter, he chuckled as he saw some marriage proposal sent for his son.They were from well-respected families in Witherfall. The last one was a letter from an Old friend.

Dear Lambert,

My bosom friend, the sands in my hourglass is about to come to its end.I fear time is no longer at my side and my past errors will leave scars in walls that when people see it marks, they will spat at my grave and that of my only offspring. I cannot undo my mistakes but I could protect the ones I care for. With this letter, I solely hand over the guardian of my daughter, your goddaughter to you.

Goodbye my friend.

He was disheartened when he read  this  letter for he had arrived late, his best friend was dead and his goddaughter might be in danger.

Immediately he rang for his valet, who quick head out to gather information concerning  his friend and goddaughter whereabouts.

Lord Lambert was terribly worried that he couldn't wait for his valet anymore, he journey to Ravengate to look for them. This left his wife in shock as she was left in the dark on the issue since her husband left in a hurry without tell her where he was going.His wife was deeply worried so she sent for  her son,who was told by Butler about a letter he received three year ago.

As Lord Lambert arrived in Ravengate, his personal valet searched for Mr Daniel Bennett and his family. Lord Lambert remembered the good time they had in the academy, when he told him of his interest in a servant girl and how he wishes to marry her when he returns.  Daniel was very strong-headed once he made any decision he sticks to it. He was adamant, refusing to change his mind cause he was deeply in love with Catherine.  How brave he was to stand for the woman he loved. A man of great self esteem, he refused help from anyone but allowed him to be the godfather of his daughter, when she was born.

After then he left his hometown, when his family finally cut all ties with him. In the letter, he had appointed him, his daughter's guardian for he was afraid his daughter would suffer if he dies, base on facts contain in his letter, he would had been dead for a long time. Lord Lambert only wish to fulfill his friend's  wish if he could find his daughter. After a long days of investigating, his valet informed him on how Lord Bennett had properly buried his brother, which was not surprising cause their clan were never buried like paupers.... He clear all his gambling debt and took his daughter with him as her guardian.

Lord Lambert displeased when he heard of Daniel's change and way of life after his wife's death and felt pity for his daughter who had to suffer the consequence of his actions.

Accepting his journey was fruitless, he decided to head back home to search another day. Confronting Bennett would be a waste of time and energy cause knowing the Bennett, she would be treated like a slave. He was aware of how happy, Lord Bennett was when his brother was striped of his title and labeled an outcast in his own home.

On his way home, he made a decision on how to get her married to his only son, based on the character quality of the girl, she was well trained and would make a good wife.

When he got home, he realized that the haste of his actions had burdened his family.... Who were confused on what had gone wrong. He narrated his tale to his son and wife. He told his son about Jaylyn,Not telling him about his intention of making her, his wife but left some hint in their conversation.

To please his father, Lord Bryan left for Dutchmall in search of Jaylyn.

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Jaylyn was having her bath in the stream when she heard voice from behind.... Someone was watching her again ..... She saw three man standing behind the white oak tree. She hurriedly grab her clothes. When she tried ran away, the men blocked her path.

" hey beautiful....", said the ugly looking one with spit drooling out from his mouth.

" Stay away from me! " she yelled.

The one who seems to be their leader tried touching her face but she slapped it off.

" So you like it rough ahhh!!, " he slapped her on the face as she tried to to shout he covered her mouth pinned her to the white oak tree making it hard for her to breath. He used his eyes to strip her off totally, she felt unclothed and kept griping for freedom.... Tired of her struggling, he yanked half of her gown from under as he tried to have his way with her, he loses grip over her mouth, she screamed louder for help.

"Let go of me! " she cried as she felt fear traveling down her spin.

Still struggling they tried to take advantage of her.

" Hey!... didn't you hear the lady.... Get away from her."Some shouted from behind Jaylyn couldn't see the person cause the big man had already block her view with his body.

" Get away boy..... She'nt your business, we just have a little score to settle. "

The man scorned and refused to listen, warned them to move away from her again.

When the men insist, he punched them and out of fear they fled.

" Are you okey!.... " he asked as he helped her.

" yes! Thank you very much sir, I better leave before my mistress starts to look for me." She said to the handsome fellow.