Transition Plan Chapter 22 : First Homecoming Part 9 -Twenty Questions

Author's Note: Here is another 'bonus' early release double chapter for your New Year's Eve 'Eve' enjoyment. Later on you will see that this chapter is the namesake chapter of the entire sequel... :)

...

In the main dining room, the captured men and the revived Agnes Clayton were bound and guarded by d'Arnot's merchant marine sailors. The household staff was all assembled with them, some of whom were bound who had been belligerent. The man who was shot had his wound tended to by a servant. He refused going to a doctor.

Tarzan paced the room with an imposing presence. He may have looked like his father, but was far stronger and more muscular. He took note of a massive 30 foot formal portrait of his father and mother's marriage above and behind them all, flanked by other, more ancient relatives' portraiture. He sighed with the weight of centuries of family history he did not yet know, but vowed that under his father's frozen gaze, he would make him proud.

Before he spoke, Tarzan looked out the window to see one of d'Arnot's men racing on horseback to the train station with all the illegal account ledgers to be presented to Magistrate Preston Rutherford for a court ruling to seize the purloined funds and return them to his family and business accounts. He smiled in confidence. The conspirators lined up before him would be penniless in mere hours.

"I suppose you wonder why I called you all here," he started with ironic smile. Jane and d'Arnot bit their lips. Humor in tense situations was so typical of this young man they respected so much.

"I am Jonathan Robert Clayton the Third, the 16th Count of Greystoke, and this is my wife Countess Jane Porter Clayton," he said with emphasis for maximum shock value to Cedric and to Agnes.

There were collective gasps from everyone, especially from those household staff who had not already guessed the truth about the imposing stranger. Several of them knelt in his honor. Agnes nearly fainted again, knowing that the new Countess was the daughter of Professor Porter, the man her husband John had tricked into going on a gorilla observation expedition, both to hunt and capture the great beasts, and to do an early reconnoitering of the oil exploration site. She felt very guilty inside. Cedric wished he had killed the Porters at their dockside arrival and checked the freighter's passenger manifest to find out that Jonathan had been the unknown expedition assistant 'extra' on that list.

Tarzan continued, "I can assure you those facts have been firmly established by the Courts and in my father's will prior to our arrival. I understand you have all been freely mismanaging my father's accounts while we have been absent. I know who each and every one of you is, and your leader Cedric. The days of Clan Greystoke needing an Executor are over."

There was both muttering and restrained joy.

"Enough!" He thundered. He was loud enough to make the fixtures rattle with his voice alone. Everyone but Cedric was intimidated. It even startled Jane.

Tarzan showed a long document to them, "As the living Count, those of you employed with Clayton Industries in any capacity and those of you with powers of Executorship over my vacant peerage are hereby terminated by this court decree, and also by my hand as the Count of Greystoke."

There was silence from Cedric and his people. They knew they had lost.

Tarzan turned and gave an intense gaze toward the widow, "Agnes Clayton."

"Y-y-yes, my Lord," she bowed in fear.

He scrutinized her face to detect any lies or subterfuge beneath her fear, "You are my cousin William Cecil John Clayton's widow, better known as 'John'. It is as yet unclear to me the degree of your current involvement in the treachery underway to strip a country bare and steal its resources on a whim, consuming Clan Greystoke's vast but still limited resources. I am a kind man like my father and his fathers. I will give you to the end of today to remove your belongings from my house. I understand there is a summer house some miles distant. You may have that and transport to it until you find a place of your own. You will be watched. I will give you a stipend, as you are family to my treacherous late cousin."

"You are most gracious, Lord Clayton," she said and bowed.

Cedric rolled his eyes but did not expect Tarzan to be inches from his face next. He actually gulped. He reached for his hidden blade, and tried to strike Tarzan in the gut. Without averting his stare, the ape man sensed the move, crushed the knife out of Cedric's hands, snapping bones sickeningly in the process that everyone could hear. Even soulless Cedric could not stand the pain and cried out. Tarzan disarmed him and held the knife within a hair's breadth of the conspirator's right eye. Sweat dripped off the evil man. Cedric knew true fear for the first time.

"By all the ancient rights of revenge I could take that eye and more to avenge my father's death by the treachery by every one of you here and more for decades. Be careful of the seeds you plant my dear fellow. Some seeds grow back as thorn thickets. I am the product of my uncle's and cousin's treachery against my father, and I assure you I am not like any man you have ever met," Tarzan hissed.

He turned and shouted to all, feeling them all cringe, "Despite my clothing, I am still more animal than man," and cut loose a vicious growl that Naima herself would be proud of. Even Jane held her breath.

Suddenly Cedric understood the 'wild animal' who John had hunted was the young Count, and that idiot Executor had unleashed him against them all. He hated John Clayton's brash stupidity even more. The new Lord of Greystoke was a formidable opponent, and had been taught about civilization well, no doubt by the Porters and d'Arnot. But he was weak because he was merciful. That led to his father's death too.

With the stroke of a pen on Clayton Industries letterhead, Tarzan announced, "The oil exploitation project is at an end, and the only ship welcome into the in waters of my land is the one that will take your people and equipment home to England."

"The Nigerian Council will be very unhappy with your change of plan," Cedric said disdainfully.

"I will deal with them soon enough. To kill a snake in the jungle, you cut off the head first, Cedric, and then gut it."

Tarzan smashed Cedric's blade on the huge walnut table, shattering the shaft and Cedric flinched. Jane was nearly in fear of her husband's righteous anger and power being displayed before all, showing a side she had only seen once before in the protection of his gorilla family. But she was proud of him, looked up to his parents' portrait, and swore she saw them smile.

"Cedric, you and your conspirators should be arrested. But we will settle this 'little family dispute' outside of the law. We have seized all your records and transactions and will now freeze and confiscate your holdings in Clayton Industries. Any property you hold of mine is also forfeit. There is more than enough fraud according to my friends to put you in debtors' prison for decades. If you will abide by being stripped of all authority in my estate and in any business I own ever again, I will spare you that. I hear that prison is an unpleasant place."

Cedric remained defiant, "You think you know it all, young Lord Clayton. I couldn't figure out how you found out about our conspiracy or how you knew all our names, but I know better now."

He scowled at the Captain, realizing the eccentric old man was far more dangerous to their operation than he ever let on. It was too late now for anything but revenge. The deaths of the new Count and those he loved and trusted would put things back on plan.

Cedric continued his threats, "There will come a time you would rather I be dead by your hand just now. I will abide your decision, but you will live to regret coming back from the wild to claim your peerage. We were doing just fine. You understand so little of English life. The mistakes you will make by your ignorance and reliance on peasants to maintain your estate will cause you far more pain and loss than we would. When you go back to the jungle to play 'wild man' with your little girl toy, we will still be here."

Jane got out of her chair, scowled, and started looking for her bow and arrow, but Tarzan bid her to remain seated.

Tarzan shot back, "Had I thought you were doing fine with my business affairs, I would have never left the jungle to stop you today. Especially when what you are doing is defiling my home in Africa. I am willing to take my chances on my friends. At least I still have my soul, Cedric."

Cedric and the men were all ejected from the Castle and escorted off the property, and banished from any return and involvement or ownership of any family business or properties. Agnes, in tears, removed all her possessions with the help of her staff, loaded a carriage, and prepared, under heavy guard, to depart for the summer home.

She faced Tarzan before boarding the carriage, "Somehow I knew this day of reckoning would finally come, Jonathan."

"And yet you continued to conspire against me – and you are now the widow of my cousin as a result," Tarzan observed.

"Your cousin and your uncle were obsessed with the fact they could never be the Count and that the peerage was to be inherited by a mere… infant. It set them on this course. I… I am sorry, Jonathan, I got caught up in it, even when I was only courting John."

Agnes actually sounded contrite about her crimes, but was very wary. He knew how well Jane could act too.

"If they hadn't, we'd be living in peace right this very moment, and you'd have a room in this grand Castle, Agnes. Apology accepted, but it has gone on too long without repentance or correction. I will take care of you Agnes, as you are my deceased cousin's wife. That is what we do in the jungle. We take care of family. In the end, I tried to save John from his own temper."

Agnes sighed, "I spent a lifetime trying to save him from his temper, Jonathan. How could you hope to change him in only weeks? I do believe you would not kill him, or let him die if you could have saved him. I can tell you are your father's son."

"I thank you, but it is time for 'good bye', Agnes."

"Good bye, Jonathan," Agnes sighed.

She departed with several personal staff, including her housekeeper that wished to remain in service to her. The elderly woman was smart enough to know Jane would refuse her help.

Tarzan turned to the remaining Castle staff, still standing in great trepidation, intimidated by his wrath against the traitors.

"Is everyone here, but for those who left with Agnes?"

"Y-y-yes Lord Clayton. E-e-everyone," the butler bowed. Everyone could hear the shaking in his voice.

Tarzan spoke gravely, as he continued to pace, "The dilemma I have now is that you have all been staff for my cousin and the conspirators against Clan Greystoke. Who can I trust? Or do I just start over?"

Everyone was deathly silent, knowing the new Lord of the manor held their livelihoods in their hands. D'Arnot had already told him who he could and could not trust on the staff.

"Anyone who was only employed by my cousin and his wife must leave now, with a month's pay to ease your transition. You must be gone by sundown."

Four bowed, mostly the bound stewards and valets, were escorted out of the room.

"So all the rest of you served my parents?" he inquired.

A chorus of 'yes' resounded.

"How many of you want to continue to serve me and the new Countess?"

All but one maid said yes and she departed immediately. He walked in front of the oldest staff member - the head butler.

Tarzan smiled, "What is your name, good sir? You appear to have served my family for some time."

The butler smiled back, "My name is Edward. I was with your father from the days of his infancy, and briefly when you were just a newborn. The Executors only kept me on for corporate memory of Castle Greystoke and my knowledge of the grounds. I never supported the treachery against your family, and when I refused to agree to their demands, was punished."

Tarzan was aware of the years of whipping, burns, and knife scars on the man's back and arms and legs, as informed by d'Arnot.

"You, sir may stay, if you wish. Thank you ever so much, Edward, for staying loyal, even when you suffered much pain on my family's behalf."

Astonishingly, Tarzan bowed to Edward, and the old butler understood that Tarzan somehow knew the extent of his punishments, "It would be my pleasure to serve another generation of Counts Greystoke, Lord Clayton."

He went person by person, and once he could look into their eyes and knew their names, he could make his choice with d'Arnot's prior guidance. His intense gaze and close proximity was very unnerving to all of them, but then again the memory of the fiery green Irish eyes of his mother was still fresh in their minds.

While less than half of the staff remained in the employ of the new Count, Jonathan addressed them, "Thank you for your loyalty and service despite these many years of not knowing if things would become better. I hope you did not have to compromise your values too much to serve and wait for the Count to return. And further, my friends, I hope you find me a worthwhile Count to work for."

That was a shock. It was something his father would say, and no one had ever heard his cousin and wife say that. They always made constant demands. Jane simply smiled with the thought that 'her Tarzan' had again returned to his natural behavior.

Edward praised his new employer, "We never gave up hope, Lord Clayton. Your father was a determined, but kind and resourceful man. It appears he passed that value to you."

Tarzan finally cracked his wonderful smile, "Thank you Edward. And now my new friends, I do have to ask you: when is dinner served? And who here can help me and Countess Jane move in?"

They all scrambled with a lot of joy, and hugged their new masters.

It was a very festive night in the dining room with only the three of them being thoroughly attended to by all the servants, with the talk centering of the beauty and history of Castle Greystoke and his family's millennia old residence and history. D'Arnot entertained the young couple with grand stories of his father and mother's lives here, and their happiness of having Jonathan as an infant in the nursery upstairs.

"That was the last time I heard laughter in these hallways," Edward interjected as he poured another wine for the Lord, Lady, and Captain. Jane winked at Tarzan.

D'Arnot departed from the young couple, watching their evening affections grow for each other as bedtime neared, "My work here is finished today. I will be upstairs reading in the guest room I have here that John and Agnes permitted me. I am very proud of you and Lady Jane. Everything worked perfectly. We can continue tomorrow our plans to dismantle the oil exploration site and how to persuade the Nigerian Council to stop oil exploration. Lord Jonathan and Lady Jane, I must warn you. I do not believe we have seen the last of Cedric, despite our thoroughness. Now they are desperate people and totally destitute. We really should have locked them up with Scotland Yard, but I accept your kindness toward them."

Edward took them up the grand staircase and down the immense hallway to their new master bedroom, which had been cleaned and changed from Agnes' belongings with theirs. They looked around and saw that everything of theirs had a place.

Edward turned down their bed, and asked, "Will there be anything else for my Lord and Lady?"

Jane said without hesitation, "Yes, Edward, there is. At the break of dawn, I wish a messenger be sent to my household. I wish to fetch my servant Elisabeth, who took care of me since I was a toddler. I want her to serve me on the household staff."

The doorbell chime rang. There was alarm. It was nearly midnight.

A servant hurried to the door, checking carefully it was not Cedric and his thugs armed for revenge. And as Tarzan and Jane reached the top of the staircase, a very tired but familiar smile greeted Jane from the doorway. It was Elisabeth.

She said sheepishly, "I… I couldn't wait, Jane. If you both lay dying by that nasty Cedric's hand, I had to be here to say goodbye."

"Well, dearest Elisabeth, you get to say 'hello' instead," Jane ran down the staircase and they hugged and cried.

Tarzan leaned over to Edward, and joked in a whisper, "They do that a lot, you know."

Edward responded cheerily, "I have two daughters by my dear wife, my Lord. Don't I know that!"

The two men laughed together.

Jane asked, "Edward, please meet my personal attendant Elisabeth. Please find her a room. She will be joining our staff um…"

"Tonight, Lady Jane. May I attend you in the morning as I did at your home?"

"Yes of course, Elisabeth."

Edward raised an eyebrow concerned about being demoted.

"You may both attend us," Jane was quick to add, looking at Edward.

…

The servants took their leave, allowing Tarzan and Jane to open the ancient wooden door to their bedroom. They gasped at its grandeur. The young couple stood before an enormous bed, bigger by twice than her bed in Barony Porter, and made of darkest walnut. The freshly changed sheets and blankets on the bed were the finest texture. The canopy had ornate carvings, brocades, and very heavy privacy curtains, strong tassels, and everything was edged with golden fringe. It was very inviting to them. Too inviting, as it turned out, to just sleep in.

"We're supposed to sleep in this? Tarzan gaped.

"Yes, dear, and more," she blushed.

"What were my ancestors thinking? We could sleep my entire family in this – after taking a ten-mile walk in it!" he snickered.

Jane knew her husband was up to something, but didn't react fast enough. Cutting the seriousness of the moment, Tarzan reached out and tickled her. She recoiled, but not before she got him back. She pulled off his jacket and cravat and tossed both items in his face.

"Haha! Take that, ape man!"

He chased her across the covers to the other side of the bed, and grabbed her by the stockings and shoes, pulling them both off and tickling her bare feet without mercy. She laughed until she lost her breath.

"Stop that!" she demanded gleefully, in between gulps of air and laughter.

She kicked him in the chest, pulling off his shirt in the process, and he rolled off the side of the bed to the floor with a thump, and she laughed uproariously.

"I'll get you," he threatened her sight unseen.

She hid behind a wall of pillows she'd quickly erected in defense against him quickly in the middle of the bed, but unknown to her he had crawled under the bed, surfaced behind her silently and tackled her, removing her blouse and top foundation in one fast motion.

He admired the now unencumbered view, and while he stared, announced with great satisfaction, "I really missed you two guys!"

"Since when are those guys? And besides you just saw them last night, my dear husband," she retorted and retaliated by sticking her tongue out at him, but let him admire her. He tried to disrobe her the rest of the way, but she wriggled out of just her skirt as he pulled it down, leaving the layers of petticoats and bloomers. She jumped off the mattress and grabbed a bed canopy tassel like she would a vine, soared over his head, dropped and bounced on the bed, flipped across it, and 'pantsed' Tarzan.

"Gotcha where it counts, Tarzan!"

Both laughed heartily. She grabbed a feather pillow and smacked her husband in the face, and in his shock, she removed his final piece of underwear, happily noting his physical reaction to their playtime so far. But she wasn't ready for his advances yet, escaping all his lunges. He fought back by grabbing another pillow and swung it at her. She ducked and it hit the bedpost. He was too strong - the pillow burst and feathers went everywhere. She laughed so hard at the cloud of feathers and sneezing it caused her that he was able to strip her of her last vestiges of clothing, and pushed her back into the bed, wrapping her in his strong arms, not letting her go. She acquiesced to her feigned struggle against him. They rolled several times entwined across the bed, and it felt heavenly to them, with the feathers still flying all over, under, and around them. The gentle tickling of the feathers added to the caresses and kisses they were already giving each other.

Not knowing how sounds travelled in the great stone castle, despite the heavy closed door to their bedroom suite, Tarzan and Jane's love play echoed everywhere. For the first time in over two decades, the laughter of the resident Count and Countess pervaded Castle Greystoke. It was a very welcome sound. Edward smiled, remembering the first time his parents chased each other across that grand bed. There had never been joyfulness of this magnitude when his cousin John and wife Agnes lived here. They were always so dour. And childless.

D'Arnot stopped reading, smiled whimsically at their playful noises, put his book down for a few minutes, chewed on the end of his reading spectacles, and said to himself, "Welcome, Lord and Lady, to your first homecoming to a place you've never been before."

Elisabeth and Edward turned in the hall and she quipped, "We may have to greet them in blindfolds in the morning, Edward. I know the antics of these two far too well already."

"It would not be the first time that was done in this house, Elisabeth," he quickly retorted.

The two senior servants couldn't stop laughing for several minutes. By then the laughter upstairs had subsided into subtle happy sounds.

Falling far into the soft and deep feather bed, it never felt more right for Tarzan and Jane. It seemed like the bed had been made only for them, but in point of fact generations of Counts and Countesses fell hopelessly for each other in that bed.

The fact was not lost on Jane or Tarzan that he was most likely conceived – and born - in this bed.

"Perhaps we will be blessed with the next Count tonight, Jane, dear," he whispered to her tenderly.

"That would be lovely, Jonathan," she smiled demurely and pulled him closely into her ready embrace.

She had forgotten how many days it had been from her last period. In point of fact, she had miscounted. But they didn't care. Knowing now that the great ordeal was over for now, and victory was theirs, Tarzan and Jane were never so relaxed. They felt truly fulfilled and satisfied with the comfort of their oneness.

D'Arnot and the servants all over the house smiled hearing the sounds of their intimacy, pleased that the tender love of the true bloodline had returned to once again make this a happy house. Most had known Jonathan as an infant before the family made the fateful move to India that ended in catastrophe in Africa. In the course of only an evening, the servants loved Jonathan and Jane as if they had known them all their lives.

…

Huddled shivering and homeless around a makeshift fire, the destitute co-conspirators agreed to meet at the local pub the following night to plan their counterstrategy to murder the new Count and his young wife and anyone who had helped them. They debated asking Agnes, who was useless to them now, with an Executor no longer needed – at least temporarily.