Chapt.8
The women disappeared out of their view into the house from the window in Erik's room, Prince Montegue storming in after them. Erik leaned back into his chair and Nate sat down across from him, next to the window.
"Elaine does not like this Prince." Erik said, feeling an anger towards the man rising up inside him, from where he did not know. "I could see it in her mannerisms. He scares her."
"They have some history, those two. But not in that way…to make a long story short, Montegue he has been obsessed with Elaine, and has been seeking her hand in marriage for years but she refuses. Can you blame her? He is a very unpleasant man, to say the least." Nate responded. They heard a door open, then close forcefully just beneath them. Then they heard the muffled voices of Dr. Conrad and the Prince from downstairs.
"Dr. Dyson's library is immediately beneath us." said Nate, in a low vioce. The next thing they heard were the women walking up the stairs, laughing noisily, going into the room next door.
"Oh great. Bound on both sides. " Whispered Nate. Erik held up his hand to silence Nate, trying to listen to the conversations unfolding. Nate strained to hear. "I can't hear anything…I am deaf in one ear. What are they saying?" said Nate in a loud whisper.
"Who?" said Erik. He wanted to hear the women's conversation, to find out more about Elaine and this Baroness Angelique.
"Downstairs." whispered Nate, pointing down. Erik sighed, then leaned forward and listened closely, relating everything he heard to Nate in whispers.
Dr Dyson was flipping through journals in his library when Jacques knocked on the door and opened it slowly.
"You have a visitor, Dr. Dyson." The young manservant said. Montague practically knocked Jacques over as he pushed past him on his way into the room. Dr. Dyson stood up, surprised to see the Prince.
"To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, Prince Montegue?" Said Dr. Dyson, knowing full well this was business.
"Good day to you too, Conrad, Earl of Mamer." Said Montague, menacingly. With the use of Dr. Dyson's official title, undeniably this visit was business. Montague removed his hat and coat and shoved them at Jacque, sitting down afterwards in one if the nearby chairs. Jacque gave Montague a disgusted look and left the room, slamming the door.
Dr. Dyson walked around his desk and leaned on the front edge crossing his arms.
"Well, Prince Montague, if I knew you were coming I would have prepared." Dr. Dyson said, with the slightest hint of annoyance.
I would have prepared for your arrival by closing the gates with chains and a padlock. Dr. Dyson thought, with a smirk on his face.
"Let get to the point, shall we? I had to endure my sister tormenting me all the way here." said Montague.
"Oh really? Angelique is here as well? How is my darling girl? How nice, Elaine must be very happy to see HER." Said Dr. Dyson, knowing that would inflame the Prince a little.
"Yes, she is. They ran off together to gossip. Angelique has been up to her usual tricks again. I just don't know what to do with her. She embarrasses my father, the King's house with her antics, she always has." Snapped Montague.
Not as much as you have. thought Dr. Dyson darkly.
"As you were saying, Prince…" Dr. Dyson prompted, wanting to get the unpleasantries over with as well.
"Yes, the reason for my visit. It seems that your current Duke of Luxembourg is gravely ill and has taken a turn for the worse. This is the problem: He only has female heirs. Now, it seems that there is a little law here that prohibits royal succession via the females of the blood line, so therefore, that leaves the country without a sovereign when he meets his end." He smiled. "I think, being the son of the King who rules over this pretty little country, I would make a good Duke, and I would be next in line."
"The order of succession goes down the blood line to the relatives of the Duke. You are in an appointed position, not part of the bloodline of the Royalty of Luxembourg…" Dr. Dyson countered.
Dr. Dyson did not care much for the trappings of royalty, of which he was one, but with the tittles came responsibilities of statesmanship, treaties to maintain, treasuries to keep full and people to lead. Montague's father had sent him away from the Netherlands and gave him a small part of Luxembourg to govern because he was making such a mess in his home country.
It would be a terrible mistake for Montague to rise to be Duke of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He would only alienate old alliances and send the country into chaos. Thought Dr. Dyson.
"Yes, I know. That is where you, or rather, Elaine comes into play." said Montague, standing up. "If I were to marry your lovely unwed daughter, I would become part of the bloodline and that problem would be solved. Our children will be the future leaders of Luxembourg. Dr. Dyson; you are well respected and the powers that be will come to ask your opinion. You can vouch for me. Do you see?"
Upstairs in Erik's room, Nate bristled with anger. "This man is a complete ass. Who does he think he is?" Nate said in a loud whisper. Erik felt himself getting angry as well.
If I were better, I would make quick work of him. A dark thought floated into his consciousness. Erik shook his head, his headache returning. He did not know where that thought came from.
Dr. Dyson looked at Montague, incredulous. He shook his head.
"There are several problems with your little plan, Montague. Firstly, the King, your father, will decide to appoint who succeeds in this case. Secondly, as you know Elaine will not agree to marry you. Ever. Thirdly, why do you think I will help you?" Montague scowled at him from across the room.
"Your precious little clinic is supported by the good graces of the current Duke. Without that, all the people in this part of the country will go without any medicine. Wouldn't that be awful! Who is to say the new Duke will agree to continue the support unless it is me." He said, as he thought I personally think it is a waste of money.
"We could find other ways…" Dr. Dyson said. "I could support it for some time."
"Then you will drain your own wealth and leave nothing for your poor daughter. Who will take care of her? Let us be honest Conrad, she is not going to attract many suitors."
"What do you mean?" said Dr. Dyson, beginning to bristle with anger. "Elaine can take care of herself."
"I mean, Conrad, she does not make good decisions. You let her go to Paris to pursue her fantasy of becoming a doctor and look what happened; she came back with a bastard child. Obviously, the girl needs some very firm direction." Montague looked slyly at the now enraged Dr. Dyson.
Upstairs, Nate stood up, knocking over his chair. "Damn that man, Damn him!"
Downstairs, the argument continued.
"I don't believe you would have the nerve to come in to my house unannounced, proceed to ask for my help then insult my family. I don't care if you are the Prince or the Marquis! You are no longer welcome in this house! Get out! Go now!" Dr. Dyson shouted, opening up the door of the library.
Upstairs, Nate strode angrily to the door and opened it to find Elaine and Angelique at their door. They had also heard Dr. Conrad's raised voice.
"Your brother is causing trouble again, my dear Angelique." Said Nate, angrily.
"How unusual." Said Angelique, with sarcasm. Nate slammed Erik's door shut and rushed down the stairs to be at Dr. Dyson's side. The women followed him down the stairs. Elaine looked back at Erik's room, wondering what he thought of all this, and what he had heard.
Montague strode quickly to the foyer of the house and grabbed his things from Jacque, who had not yet put it away. He looked back at Dr. Dyson.
"Don't you worry old man. I will have Capellen Manor some day. And those inside it." He said looking at Elaine walking down the stairs. She froze at his stony glare, her blood running cold. Montague stopped short as Nate pushed in front of him, red with rage.
"Please call off your English Bulldog, Dyson. I am leaving. Come Angelique." Montague said with cold deference.
"I think I am staying a while more, brother. Go on without me, I am among friends." She said, provoking a growl from Montague.
"Have it your way." He said, storming out the door.
Upstairs, Erik stood up, enraged, not even feeling the pain of his weight on his broken leg. Who could be so cruel these people?
Suddenly, a flood of memories gripped him and his head seared with pain. His body shook with the dark, nightmarish visions in his mind. He tried to shake the visions, but they continued, mercilessly striking him again and again. They flowed through his head as consciousness left him.
First was the dark vision of a group of people laughing and throwing things at him through black metal bars, as he looked back, helpless, shackled. Then there was the image of an ugly, big man beating on him with a whip, and blood flowing from wounds on his body. Then there was the image of him looking down, his hands firmly around a terrified man's neck. Next was the image of an angry young man fighting him, lashing at him with a sword, and him lashing back. Finally, as he faded into oblivion, he was in a room with fire and smoke, then the flash of broken mirrors, then the rumbling sound of an organ…
His world faded away to black as he fell over onto the floor.