Chapter 13

Jacqueline gathered her skirt and headed towards the further part of the house. She knew asking the saddle boy to prepare her horse and her earlier conversation with her 'darling 'husband meant he would be fuming and definitely looking for her.

The lilac dress made a ruffling sound and against the click of her heels she took them off and held them in her hand instead.

And as she had thought yesterday the perfect revenge would be messing with his perfect little world a bit. Dominic seemed a man of organisation and neatness and if she could and would shake his life a little....

It would be minimal to what he's done to mine. Jacqueline thought, she knew she would be punished not letting her out without his permission wouldn't be enough. His letter to William had been enough to scar her.

He had sacred her literally. His grasp making a bruise on her wrist. She rubbed it lightly before thinking of William. Alex. Anthony. All the men that meant something to her. Home. William mainly. Dominic's letter was uncalled for. But William made her promise she wouldn't talk about it to him. She was loyal to William.

But the letter, the letter to her lovely William, the horrible man that was her husband had wrote to her brother. That god damn letter, she could not believe a man could write such a thing. She wanted to slaughter Sir Dominic.

It threatened to kill the priest if Jacqueline was not returned and that he wouldn't hesitate to burn down his home if she was found in it. The actions of a nobleman, never questioned especially one so close to the king. Dominic had control wrapped around his manly soft fingers.

Nevertheless he wouldn't control me. She concluded. Jacqueline would enjoy today have some longed for privacy and wind up her masterful husband.

The house large and the corridors just as big even if the windows hadn't been opened in years; the soft plush carpets were comforting and silenced Jacqueline's footsteps.

"Look at this." She whispered entering a room at the end of the darkened corridor.

It was glorious. Plants potted all over the room two sofas in the middle and a large balcony which was shut but Jacqueline would surely open it later. She stepped around admiring the books that were shelved in several different places hidden but on full view to the reader.

She took one and flicked through it and continued looking around. Tiny images floated on the walls. She touched a D it looked carved deeply.

Ignoring the D she flung the door open and grabbed a book trying to focus, before she fell asleep.

Dominic ++++

"Yes Mrs Anthony we will get that looked at." Dominic gestured to his steward to write it down and turned back to the strewn woman.

"He, he took everything, my lord." The woman hiccupped as tears streamed down her face, Dominic was aghast he hated these situations. It was uncomfortable for him he wasn't a man of emotion and being an earl he needed to make sure his tenets were comfortable and happy. Even if that included listening to another sob story, he almost rolled his eyes.

Instead he straightened his shirt slightly trying to make use of his bored fingers. He had been here for over an hour, the school visit taking longer than expected and a council meeting was suddenly of need of Dominic's assistance he had missed lunch to fulfil Francis wishes.

He returned his focus onto the woman.

Her husband had left her taking all of his valuable possessions with him and she had been disowned by her family. Calling the lord, he was now in her house which was just filled with plain furniture, refusing tea they both knew she couldn't afford and trying to find out where her damned husband could be.

"We must go Madam but I assure you we will be in contact," The woman nodded sadly.

"My lord I-I what should I do next?"

Dominic wanted to shrug and head home, he had enough of hearing others problems when he had enough himself. His upcoming wedding unplanned, he was too busy and she that insufferable little woman was too much.

He sighed. "I will be in contact you need a job and a servant shall bring some food for the week .You should hopefully have a job by then,

"Maybe you would do well as a cook or cleaner. I should find someone," He looked around the house. Simply decorated most of their valuable possessions were gone and the parlour was left with some ripped sofas, cushions and the straw floor. She would need that job, especially with rent coming up soon.

"Thank you, my lord, thank you" The older woman was now smiling at his feet he bent his head slightly and calling his steward head out the door.

Bristling with life his town was improved with time, more trade due to his upcoming ceremony and more food needing to be harvested he had seen the lines of hopeful producers and sellers at his household in the morning.

Dominic smiled as a little girl curtsied low to him and his carriage door opened he quickly stepped in. The plush cushion cushioned his thump as he sat down. The door still open and the wind was blowing into the overheated carriage.

"I'll go home straight away Joseph I’ll go to the office tomorrow," He had recently learnt, just that day of his new stewards name, the child was quick witted and obedient, a fantastic combination.

The brown haired child looked at the exhaustion of his master and sighing he stated what he wanted. "Yes, my lord," The young steward bowed and shut the door the carriage, it lurched into motion.

Dominic looked outside his window; tiredness catching up with him closed his eyes gently. Why couldn't he just sleep forever or at least a day?

The sun streamed into the carriage slowly, the oranges danced with the blues whilst the pinks flew into the carriage. Dominic sighed again. He didn't even get to enjoy the sunset. Being at court he had been at King Francis beck and call and now he was at his tenets. As well as that girl! That was supposedly his wife. That had ruined his home completely.

He wished he could sleep and dream. He wanted to dream about life, riding and helping others without having to get up in the morning to ensure the work was done.

"My lord we are here,”

He nodded and walking out stumbled slightly and being caught by his steward. "His lordship needs some rest," The steward shouted, the carriage driver helping him carry the exhausted earl.

Dominic was about to shout at the child for making such a fuss, he was too tired to argue and grabbing onto the support was brought inside. "Take me to my study," Dominic ordered, some strength returning to him.

The corridors bright with the lights Dominic ordered every night be light. He felt uncomfortable in the dark but blinking back the flash back he sighed.

Flash back begins

Dominic woke up early sighing he had no sleep the first night he grabbed the large shirt that the Valet had to find for him.

"My lord?" There was a knock on his door and ignoring his new bedroom he shouted for them to enter.

"Is your room to your delight?" He looked around the room , blue and brown carpet hung on the walls. Around the room were large tapestries and the king sized bed ruffled by Dominic's constant tossing.

"Why were the corridors dark I ordered for the corridor to be lightened?" Dominic snapped. His hand trembled as he felt the fear of that last night opening his room to find black. Spending all his life at court the lights had been on due to King Francis' commands he wasn't use to the dark.

He didn't like it.

Dominic frowned and his eyes flickered in fear again and then anger for the stupid staff's mistake. The valet quickly looked at the new earl's face. His eyes were hooded, the area surrounding his pupils red. His hair was sticking up in all directions. "I apologize for the mistake, my lord, it will be rectified,”

Dominic nodded and turning away from the kind man's face he glanced around his room. The valet quickly strode in the room and opened the large windows the earl had asked for his room.

"I did not give you permission to enter my room," Dominic snarled.

The valet looked startled and mumbling his opinion turned to leave. "No wait," He paused "I want breakfast.”

"It's in the parlour my lord,” Dominic nodded, and turned to walk out before he collapsed on his doorstep.

Flashback end

"My lord, I don't think that's a good idea." His driver, Samuel mumbled. He knew his master was most likely to work all night long.

"I did not ask for your opinion take me now and get me something to eat." He roared, stumbling slightly on the steps as his driver reluctantly nodded and helped his master to the room.

"Yes, sir," The man whispered and dismissed the steward to grab the earl a meal.