Edmund went to the dining room, his muddy boots leaving an ugly stain in its wake. It had rained heavily last night, making everywhere wet and sticky. He had been to the farm early in the morning to help a friend. He had hoped to make it back home on time and freshen up before dinner but things didn't work as planned, so he found himself sitting across from his mother, who looked at him in disbelief.
"Where have you been young man?" His mother, Lady Gabriella, asked, not at all pleased to see his first son, the Duke, look so disorderly.
"Good evening, mama." Turning to the right where his never-smiling father sat at the head table, he greeted, "Good evening, papa." Without sparing a glance at him, the man continued to eat his food, but he gave a curt nod to acknowledge his greeting, and that was enough for Edmund. The man barely spoke to him or his brother Jake, or his wife or anyone at all. "I went to help Zack with his farm work early this morning."
