Richard returned home, beaming with happiness after gaining Barbara's trust. The petite woman was stubborn, always hiding her weaknesses from others, a trait she had since childhood. Often, she would fall and injure herself but stubbornly endure the pain and act like nothing had happened.
As he stepped inside, the steward greeted him. "Milord, the Count is waiting for you at his workplace," he informed, taking his black coat.
Richard nodded and went upstairs. Facing his father's room, he frowned when he thought of the conversation he had with him the previous day.
He opened the door and stepped in. Seeing his father engrossed in his work, he stood up. Neither of them made a sound. His father behaved as if he wasn't there and continued his work.
After what it seemed to be a long time, his father put the pen and looked at him. "You were at Marquis Reylson's house?" he asked and he answered with a curt nod.
"Then you told the Marquis about your engagement cancellation with Barbara?" he asked, raising a brow.
"No," he replied, receiving the timepiece thrown at him by his father, missing him by a few inches. Richard stood unfazed like it didn't happen for the first time. He lived all his twenty-one years coping with his father's anger. Not only him but his mother too.
"Barbara is my fiancé and I will never break this engagement—"
"She isn't worthy anymore now when her identity was exposed. She is not the Marquis' real daughter and who knows where she came from! Cancel this engagement," he shouted, his white plump face turning red.
"I care less about her origins. Doesn't Father find it absurd to forget her growing up with an air of nobility far behind any other lady in the whole kingdom? Let alone what is she capable of," Richard explained with a natural tone.
"Now everything changed! She is nothing but an unknown woman. If the Marquis fired her from his house, she would be like any other commoner in the kingdom, had no statue,"
"It doesn't matter. I want to marry her," he stated, feeling powerless for the first time.
"I will never allow this marriage to happen. I will let you make your mind inside the cell for a few days, maybe you will use your brain to think thoroughly about the matter," he stated, calling two guards who entered and took him to get his punishment.
His father, the Count, was esteemed for his outward generosity, humility, and kindness. However, these qualities belied the reality of his nature. Behind closed doors, upon entering his home, he would shed the facade of benevolence and assert strict control over every aspect of household affairs. His authority demanded unwavering compliance, and those who dared to oppose him faced swift and severe consequences.
After long hours, when the sky turned darker, the door to his cell opened and without opening his eyes, he knew his mother had come to visit him.
"Why did you come, Mother? Father will be angry at you too," he said, fixing his sitting posture.
"I brought some warm food with me, the cell is cold and I am afraid you will catch a fever," she replied, putting the tray down. The food wasn't that fancy. A simple vegetable broth with a piece of bread was the only thing his mother managed to find.
Richard ate slowly while his mother patted his shoulder. "Why don't you listen to your father's orders? You know him very well. What if he hurt you?" she said, tears falling from her eyes.
Richard wiped his mother's tears. Looking at her tired face, full of wrinkles, the darkness under her eyes, and her grey hair, his heart pained. Despite what he and his brother went through, he was sure his mother spent worse. His father was a horrible man.
"Mother, don't cry. Nothing will happen to me. However, I don't want to lose Barbara," he said. His voice breaking down. He could never lose her. She was the light to his darkened world. She was the only one he could marry.
His mother cried even more. "It's because of me. I couldn't protect you from your father. I am a horrible mother."
"No, it is not your fault," he said, soothing his mother, taking her in his embrace, noticing her already slim body, losing more weight. "I will work hard to get you and Jade from this prison, Mother," he said, his eyes burning with flame ready to burn everything.
***
Barbara looked from the carriage's window. The cool breeze of autumn was swaying the fallen brown leaves. The clouds were covering the sky, hiding the sun behind their clutches.
"Thank you for accompanying me, sister," Aurora murmured.
Barbara shifted her gaze from the window to Aurora. She was sitting obediently in front of her. Her mother requested her to go with Aurora to Duke Burn's Mansion after receiving an invitation to a tea party organized by the Duke's daughter, Hailey.
"There is no need to thank me," she responded and resumed her staring at the scenery outside. She wasn't that good at chatting with a stranger so she kept silent almost on their journey.
After a while, the carriage stopped. The coachman opened the door. Barbara went out followed by her sister. They were welcomed by the maids who escorted them to meet Hailey.
When she arrived, she saw many noble women their ages already sitting with Hailey. "Greetings, Miss Hailey, Miss Lucinda…" she exchanged greetings from the woman sitting around the round table.
Barbara could see their gazes. Although they tried concealing their disgust and mockery, it still appeared in their eyes. She ignored them and took her seat.
Her sister greeted the other. "I am sorry, I am still learning etiquette," Aurora said, taking the seat next to hers, blushing in embarrassment.
"Never mind, it is understandable since you haven't much time to learn."
"Yes, I had trouble learning them when I was younger."
"Me too, so you don't have to be panicked."
"I heard you sprained your ankle."
The group of women, who had previously held a disdainful attitude towards those of lower social standing, gathered around Aurora and engaged in lively and cheerful conversation for an extended period. Barbara observed Aurora's cheerful and effervescent nature as she shared captivating stories, prompting the others to erupt in laughter. This significant behaviour change left Barbara pondering the transformation in attitude among the women and questioning the sudden absence of their former patronizing behaviour towards individuals of lesser means.
Barbara sipped her tea silently. No one talked to her, so she kept silent. She didn't like such parties with pretentious little missies.
Because she drank so much tea, she wanted to go to the bathroom, she stood up, and said, "Excuse me."
However, when she turned, her cup fell and the hot tea spilt on the table and over her sister's arm.