Thirty Part Two

Marcus arrived at the apartments Alfred shared with Merry. The men planned on having breakfast together, then visiting Gwen at Jude's townhouse afterwards.

Marcus met the girl, Merry, thinking her lovely, he wondered at her relationship with his son. This was not the woman, Terese, that Alfred had told him about.

Alfred was still dressing, Merry had started painting already this morning. She invited Marcus to come into her sitting room turned studio, if he wanted to wait for Alfred in her company.

Marcus, at Merry's invitation, sifted through her book of sketches while they chatted.

Merry told him of Alfred's generosity in buying her the supplies to ply her craft.

This made Marcus even more curious.

Was his son the sort of man who would keep a mistress after finding the woman he wanted to wed?

Marcus forced himself to study the drawings Merry had created, instead of sitting there judging his son.

"You have a definite talent, my dear. These are quite well done." Marcus noticed that while her portraits and stills were very good, her landscapes seemed to come alive. "You like the outdoors, do you not?"

Merry lit up as a candle, "It is what I prefer," Merry admitted, "I was raised in the country, on the shore. Wide open spaces, the hills and streams, they are something I miss very much."

"I also prefer the same." Marcus smiled upon the charming girl. If she were Alfred's mistress, at least the young man had good taste in women.

Alfred came down and joined them, the men taking their leave soon after.

Lynwood was directed to take them to a local eating establishment.

Settled in the coach for a few moments, Marcus could not help but to try to satisfy his curiosity, "Merry is a lovely girl...."

Alfred sat comfortably back, his arms stretched out to either side, one leg propped up, his ankle supported by his knee. He grinned as the Cheshire Cat and answered his father, "Yes, she is."

Marcus frowned a titch, as that answered nothing at all.

"You live there at the apartment with her?" Marcus queried, hoping he would get a bit more out of Alfred this time.

"Yes, when I am not home at the estate." Alfred continued grinning, he could not help himself, then he burst out laughing at Marcus' second furrowing of his brow.

"Why do you not just ask what we both know you are trying to get around to?" Alfred continued chuckling at Marcus' scrunched up face.

He had been called out and caught prying, yet Marcus had to ask, "Is she your mistress?"

"There now, father, was that so difficult?" Alfred was delightedly amused to have this time alone, just he and his father.

They had needed to do this for a long time now, Alfred was grateful for every moment he could spend with this man, now that the poison was gone from his soul.

"Yes, it was difficult." Marcus laughed his answer, he then sobered a bit and raised his brow, "Well Alfred...... Is she?"

"Not any longer, father," Alfred smiled widely, "Not since I met Terese. Yet, I am paying the rents, and there is a spare room that allows me to stay in town comfortably."

Marcus was glad that his son was not the sort of man who would be consorting with two women at the same time.

"She is very good at drawing." Marcus nodded slightly as they arrived at their destination.

"Yes, she is." Alfred happily agreed.

They sat and ordered pastries and coffee. They were seated to the back of the room, away from the other guests occupying the establishment.

"There are things I need to tell you, son, things about me and your mother." Marcus began speaking after their coffee had been served.

Alfred looked at Marcus very seriously, and spoke before Marcus could continue, "I need you to know she wanted you dead, father."

Marcus sat completely back in his chair, staring at Alfred, as if Alfred had just grown horns out of his head.

"She tried to get me to do the deed, then she tried recruiting cousin Jude, when I said her nay." Alfred looked Marcus in the eye, regretting having to tell him this, yet feeling that Marcus needed to know.

Alfred felt that Marcus needed to be free of her shadow in the future, "She hated you, father, with enough passion to try to have you killed."

Alfred felt better of a sudden, he took a deep breath and forged on, "You were not alone either, she wanted Uncle Damien and Trent dead, also."

Alfred could see Marcus was shocked by this information, "It is a damn good thing she fell down those stairs, father, as Jude and I were headed to see Uncle Damien the next day, to ask him what should be done."

Marcus took all of this in, his face drained of blood, going pale, his hand going to his chest.

"She would have hung, most likely." Alfred wore a rueful look upon his face as he imparted this last bit.

"She was planning to have my brother killed?" Marcus was absolutely floored, he could really not imagine Gwen planning murder, much less a triple murder. Then again, mayhap, he could. "And your cousin?"

"And you...... She wanted you dead first." Alfred wanted to make sure that Marcus felt no remaining guilt over his mother's death, whatsoever. Alfred knew he did not.

"I can not believe this, Alfred...truly?" Marcus was still a bit in shock, he had no idea she had become so evil and twisted she would actually court murder.

"When did she start talking thus?"

"'Twas but a few months ago, she started trying to convince me that I could be Marquess. She actually thought she could get away with it, that I would want that, that I would want it enough to kill you."

"And when you said no," Marcus was flabbergasted, "She went to cousin Jude?"

"I am sorry, father, I should have told you weeks ago."

Alfred was sorry, so very sorry, that at any point in his life he had listened to his mother.

That he had ever, even remotely, considered going along with her plans.

"It is not your fault, Alfred. I am actually surprised she did not try it herself." Marcus shook his head in wonder, "I knew she was a manipulative bitch, and yet still I allowed her to raise you as she saw fit. It was easier than arguing or being debased by her." Marcus' eyes begged for forgiveness, he loved Alfred, in spite of the distance Gwen had put between them.

"I owe you a huge apology, son. I should have told her to go right to hell, raising you as I wished, in spite of her efforts to thwart me. I am sorry I did not fight her more."

"Father, I have a feeling that hell is exactly where she is headed, and with very good cause." Alfred raised his brows upon his observation, "I am glad she is to die as she is though, now at least, none of us will have to see a rope choke the life from her."

Alfred drank some coffee, then set his cup back down, as Marcus reached for his own.

"What was it you wanted to tell me, father?" Alfred bit into a pastry, chewing, as Marcus answered him.

"I was coming back this time to divorce Gwen." Marcus imparted this news with a bit less guilt than he had felt before.

She had tried to have him killed.

He still was having trouble fully processing that, he would think on it in the days ahead, still shaking his head in disbelief every time he did.

"It is a long story, but there is a woman....." Marcus looked to Alfred timorously, as Alfred swallowed and grinned.

"I can only hope that you chose better this time, father." Alfred chuckled softly.

"Actually, that leads me to start from the beginning, as I never intended to chose your mother, Alfred. You see....."

Marcus very kindly told Alfred the story, never making Alfred feel that he regretted Alfred's existence, but at the same time, telling him the entire truth.

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The Lady Eleanor and Violet arrived at Marlborough close to the noon hour.

Violet had not slept well the night before, his body and his soul had yearned for his wife's loving arms, he had pined for her healing presence.

He had grown accustomed to her warm body beside him, her calm, even breathing relaxing him, as he drifted off to sleep.

The forced inactivity the coach provided, had not helped matters any either.

Eleanor considered Violet's sleeping form across the carriage, how the man was still utterly gorgeous, even with his head tilted back, as a light snore sounded upon air entering his nose.

The conveyance came to a smooth stop.

Violet came quickly awake upon the motion ceasing.

Violet yawned and stretched as they sat in the curved drive, trying to wake and rouse himself, after the nodding off he had been partaking of.

"I am sorry," He saw Eleanor smiling at him across the carriage, "I am usually better company than I have been for you this morning." Violet smiled back at her sleepily and sheepishly.

"'Tis nothing to apologize for, I have been enjoying the scenery." Ellie gathered her shawl, as Violet retrieved the envelope of papers for the Duke from down in the side of the seat, taking a moment to slide it in his jacket pocket. His new jacket's pocket, as the she-pirate had taken his other coat.

He had been relieved last eve upon finding the papers had not been disturbed by the highwaymen, so he had tucked them down

into the spot once more this morn.

The footman opened the door of the carriage, setting a step down outside of it, putting it there to assist their exit from the coach.

The Duke and Duchess had been expecting their son Will anytime, so had come outside, thinking to greet him.

Ellie's eyes filled with tears when they lit upon Kathleen, the Duchess. It had been fifteen long years since she had seen her brother and sister in law together.

She knew better than to look at her brother, for if she did, Ellie felt she would surely lose all composure completely.

She opened her arms to Kathleen, as the Duchess came down the entry steps, the two women embracing, crying in joy at the pleasure of being in one another's arms.

Ellie drew back and looked at Kathleen, her beautiful face and ebony hair, so like her daughter, Arianna. The emerald eyes Ellie remembered so well, shining with youth and vitality.

"You are still so very lovely, Kathleen, I feared to never see you again." Ellie placed her hand upon the beloved cheek, "'Tis very, very glad I am to see you."

"I missed you also, Ellie." Kathleen smiled widely, her eyes floating with moisture. She could finally tell this woman how grateful she was.

"Thank you for being here for my family when I could not be."

"You know 'twas my pleasure, I needed something to do." Ellie laughed from sheer joy, as she finally trusted herself to look at her brother.

The Duke had come down to join them, embracing his sister as she held him as tightly as she could.

Ellie spoke softly, "So very happy for you, William, so, so happy for you." The tears flowed, she knew the hell this man had gone through when his wife had gone missing. The endless search, the shunning of rumors and innuendo he had to have heard repeatedly. He had never given up searching in all that time, he had never even considered it.

Violet had given them a moment, then he stepped forward, as Ellie released Kathleen.

"Your Grace." Violet smiled at the Duchess warmly, glad to see her reunited with her Duke once more.

Kathleen looked at Violet quite surprised, she looked to Ellie curiously, then back at the gorgeous man in front of her, "Oh joy!" She stated, as she joined her hands atop of her heart, "'Tis Violet!"

She then threw her arms wide, as he laughed and picked her up, swinging her around in a circle, before setting her upon her feet again and drawing back to look at her.

The Duke was frowning, very close to punching the good looking man upon his chin.

Kathleen laughed and held Violet's arms, "How is it possible you are more beautiful now than when we last met?"

Violet grinned at the beauty, "I could ask the same, your grace, but I believe I know the answer." Violet's eyes shifted to the Duke.

"My most sincere pleasure, your grace, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance."

Violet bowed deeply, as William still glared a bit, "Violet?........ As in, Violet, the pirate, who stole our Betsy?"

"Elizabeth." The Duchess and Eleanor said together.

Violet smiled just hearing her name, "Indeed, my wife, Elizabeth."

William saw the love for Betsy in Vi's eyes, and he decided to reserve judgement until a later time. "Yes, well, let us go inside, I am sure you are weary from your travels."

Normally, the Duke would have escorted his sister inside, but not with this dashing pirate grinning at his wife.

William took Kathleen's hand, placing it upon his arm, he left Violet to assist the Lady Ellie.

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