Chapter 2: from riches to rags.
Maurice pine was a wealthy merchant, he lived at the center of the city and had two adult sons named Gaston and Adam.
With his wife gone, they were his pride a joys. No father could ask for more perfect sons.
As he walked down stairs to the dining room for breakfast, he happened to peer out the window to see his eldest son kissing a maid. Rolling his eyes Maurice opened the window and stuck his chubby sausage like body through the frame.
"Gaston if a catch you tounging another maid, I'm gonna cut your wig allowance." He yelled, chuckling at his own joke, which wasn't very good.
The maid who had her skirt flipped up underneath Gaston squealed and ran away.
"I don't wear wigs! This is all natural Madame!" he called after her, but it was to late. Gaston growled and looked up. "Thanks pops." He said darkly.
"You're welcome my son. Have you seen Adam?"
Gaston snorted, " That fool is in the office. Do you even need to ask? He only goes two places. The university library and the office, and since the carriage is still here I'm betting that's where he is."
Gaston looked longingly after the maid, then back up to his father. " I'm gonna go hunting, have fun with the non-socialite I call a brother."
Maurice pulled himself back in through the window, twisting carfully so as not to ruin his new suit and walked to the back of the house where the family office was located. There he found his son Adam sitting in his chair with ink stained hands scribbling something in a receipt book.
His sons looked nothing alike, Gaston was strong and handsome, and was all too aware of it. He favored a gaudy red tailcoat trimmed with gold fabric, with a mactching waistcoat, shiny black boots and crisply clean white tights. His Raven black hair was always neatly swept back in a pony tail, keeping any strays away from his chiseled face and cleft chin.
Adam was a different story. Although his build was not as athletic as Gaston's, he was well built and had long brown golden hair loosely pulled back, like his mother. He preferred light blue vests with long whites sleeved shirts underneth, matched with cream colored briches. He was sensitive, smart and kind hearted. But he did have somewhat of a ani-social streak, preferring books to company.
Maurice watched Adam look up into space, probably doing figures in his head, then his blue eyes flicked down to the page, and he wrote something that made him mummble. Even his sons shared blue eyes were vastly different. While Gaston possessed sharp icy blue eyes, Adams eyes were the kind of soft blue one would see in a day dreamer. But Right now those eyes looked troubled.
"Well you are up early. Care to tell me what troubles you?" Maurice commented.
Adam looked up when he entered. "Father, there you are. Do you know Gaston spent triple his allowance money! He has ordered more mirrors for his room again, and there is a strange receipt here for five dozen eggs! I asked Cook about it, but she says those are his as well!"
" Oh calm down. Let him have his fun, I have got money to spare." Maurice said taking the ledger from Adams hands. "You know it wouldn't hurt you to spend some of my money. Why don't you go out have fun with your brother. Go play cards, go hunting or something. You hardly ever spend you allowance. It's an old mans dream to dote on his sons and have them spend his money."
Adam shook his head. "I do too spend my allowance. See right here." He said pointing a ink stained finger at some numbers.
Maurice chuckled stroking his large gray bushy mustache. "Adam these are all books, quills, ink and parchment. Not exactly fun." He really is a non-socialite, Maurice thought to himself. Well his sons were almost perfect...
"You need a woman. I'm sure your brother has some to spare."
Maurice watched as his son turned away from him back to the books splayed out on his desk. His mood becoming darker than normal.
"Did you have another one of those dreams? Who was the girl this time?"
Adam refused to look him in the eye. " It's always the same one." He said quietly frowning. " And anyway-" he said A bit louder, "It doesn't matter what I dream about."
Maurice sighed. Yes his sons were both handsome, clever, and well educated, however Gaston seemed to be the more socially adept one, with women clinging to him like lost lint. Adam on the other hand spent his days keeping the ledger books for his accounts and could be found reading and writing in his spare time, never once mentioning a girl other than the one saw in his dreams.
Maurice clapped his hand down on his sons shoulder, "Come and have breakfast with me I have something I need to talk to you about and looks like you haven't eaten yet." He said changing the subject.
Adam grunted, but got up from his desk and followed his father. They made the short trip to the dining area where the stumbled upon Gaston in the arms of another woman. The maid shrieked and fled to the kitchens.
"Gaston!" Maurice said sharply, "I thought you went hunting!"
"Yeah for another woman." He said in his deep timber voice. He licked his lips and smiled like a wolf that had just eaten.
Adam sneered in disgust. "You're awful."
"Jealous?" Gaston asked snidely, pushing his sleek black hair back into place. Taking special care fixing it where the maid had messed it up.
"As if." Adam sniffed as he sat down at the dinning table.
"Well it's a good thing you're here Gaston take a seat. I can tell you and Adam the good news together."
Gaston sat down at the table and immediately picked up a polished silver spoon, to look at his reflection.
Maurice cleared his throat disapprovingly.
" What?" Gaston said without looking away, " I'm listening."
Adam shook his head irritated, but turned his attention back to his father before he said something he might regret. "What is this good news father?"
Maurice clapped his hands together happily. "One of my ships have discovered a new trading route, this one is faster and has more trade along the way! And the best part of it all is that it's unclaimed. My dear boys I've hit the jack pot! If I can send my fleets out in that direction and make a claim on the route, then we'll be set for the rest of our days!"
"That's wonderful father!" Adam cried happily.
"Does that mean we get a bigger house?!" Cried Gaston. "I have always wanted a bigger room."
"Bigger house! Bigger rooms! Bigger Beds! If this works out you two will never have to work a day in your lives!" Cried Maurice, "The only thing you boys will have to do is get married and live happily ever after with your families."
At the mention of marriage both Gaston and Adam sobered up. They looked at each other but decided not to say anything about it. They didn't want to spoil this moment for their father.
" For now I'm going on a trip to the coast to set every thing in order. Is there anything you want me to bring you boys back?"
"A new hunting gun." Gaston said cheekily.
"Gaston I just bought you one last week!" His father chided, shaking his fat fingers.
"Yes, but not one from the coast." Gaston said smiling.
" Bah! I can never deny you nothing!" He said patting Gastons strong cheeks."And you Adam? What do you want?"
"I'm good, just come home safe." Adam said.
"Adam, are you sure? You never ask for anything." Maurice complained.
Adam nodded.
"Alright then let's eat breakfast and I will go get ready for my trip." He cried happily, sitting down with his sons.
A few weeks later, Maurice returned looking more haggard that he ever looked in his life. His hair seemed to be grayer and his wrinkles more defined. His eyes no longer showed any sparkle to them and his movements were sluggish and somewhat wooden.
Adam, who had seen the arrival of his family carrige went to help his father into the house as soon as he saw it cresting the hill.
"Father welcome home!" Adam cried, but when he saw the state of his father as he climbed down from the carrige, he frowned.
"Father have you not been eating? You look ill."
Maurice looked up at Adam but didn't respond.
"Father?"
Maurice just shook his head. "Go get your brother Gaston there's something I need to talk to you boys about."
Adam was confused, but did as he was told. Where was his fathers happy go lucky attitude?
When he and his brother finally sat down they watched their fathers face age 10 years in a matter of minutes.
He told his sons about the loss of all his ships, and their fortunes. The reason their had been no trade route in that area was because of the violent storms that overtook the seas.
Maurice had also taken out huge loans to stock his ships for their trips, hoping that thier initial finds would be enough to pay the them back. Alas his Ships were now all gone, lost to the seas and there was no merchandise to sell so they couldn't pay off their loans and they were now in debt.
The lines around his fathers eyes were deeply etched. "My dear sons, I am so sorry to tell you that we will be forced to sell everything and move to the country."
Gaston stood up from the table shocked and enraged " I have never...never heard such a ridiculous statement! I'm too beautiful for the country! Sure it's nice to go hunting with the lodge every now and again but actually living there! You're a crazy old fool!" Gaston stormed out leaving Adam to comfort their father.
"Dont worry." Adam said patting his fathers shoulder. " I will look through the account books and see if I can find any extra money. Just have faith, everything will be fine."
Maurice looked ashen gray as he swallowed. " Will it?"