AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Fourteen
Kenneth barely had any sleep that night after the altercation with his father.
When the Duke had walked out of the study leaving him behind, he had slumped into his chair in thought.
There remained a lot that he needed to accomplish and now his father was planning to impede his progress with the threat of disownment. Not only was he going to lose his everything if his father went through with the threat, he would also lose the ability to instigate any real change from the top.
He remained in that position for a while, unaware of how much time had passed before the Duchess had returned to meet him in the study.
“My goodness, Kenneth. What am I hearing?” his mother had remarked. “Disownment? That is not a joking matter, Son.”
“Well, I am not the one making the joke, am I?” He responded, drawing his hands through his hair.
“Come on, Son. Please do not take this lightly. Your father has already begun sending messages out to his most trusted allies asking for their opinions on this matter,” his mother had gone on to plead.
“Then he should do what he must,” Kenneth had responded.
“You are my only child, Kenneth. My only son. Please reconsider your stance and change your mind on this. How long will you have to appease your father before you inherit his titles and influence? Twenty years? Thirty years? Isn’t that a small price to pay to still have the power to chase your dreams rather than losing it all?”
“Are you asking me to abandon the plight of the people, Mother?”
“I’m asking you to make a compromise, Son. Wise men know when to continue fighting, give up a fight, or bid their time in order to gather the strength to fight another day. I am asking you to bid your time, Son. Please,” his mother begged.
“I’m sorry, Mother, but bidding my time is a betrayal to the people I am fighting for. Some need these changes effected now. Twenty years is too long to continue to keep them in bondage. I will continue fighting for them, regardless of what Father wants to do about me.” He had finally decided, though the decision he made was never in doubt.
The Duchess had sat down for a bit, before rising and making her way out of the study.
“You know what I will forever admire about you, Son? Your heart and resolve,” she said at the door.
He simply continued to stare.
“You might not see it, but you two are more alike in that aspect than you know. Good luck, Son,” she said as she left.
He stayed there a while longer after she had left, pondering on their conversation. Eventually, he retired to bed, his mind in a storm but with his heart at peace.
He knew he had made the right decision to continue on this path. If all he succeeded in doing was quelling the dissent and planned revolt of the commoners, then he would have accomplished more than enough in his lifetime, even if that cost him his position in society.
And then, just before he dozed off, his mind settled on one person.
Lady Rose.
Kenneth had woken up with her on his mind after a horrid night of getting practically no sleep. And now his thoughts were filled with her.
I guess when one is on the brink of losing everything, the picture of those people and things that mean the world to you become clearer.
Everything came back to memory. The way her eyes lit up when she became interested in something, the way she bit her lips when she was teasing. The curve of her hips and swell of her breasts when she danced in her ball gown, also, the scent of her body when he stood close to her.
Everything about her aroused him in a way he couldn’t explain nor had control over.
* * *
He was back in the study and waiting for news from Leonard on the bastards of high society that were spearheading the cries for an uprising.
He sent Leonard out this morning to begin his investigations on the dissenting faction. He needed to work faster to resolve the brewing storm if he was soon going to be without any power and influence.
Kenneth managed to communicate the sense of urgency to Leonard and now all he could do was wait and hope Leonard found a way to come through.
And in the time he waited, thoughts of Lady Rose had kept him imprisoned.
