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They walked away from the door and headed for the study where they proceeded to share drinks together.
“You were reading my bill?” Kenneth exclaimed when he noticed that a copy of his bill lay open on the table, one he most definitely didn’t put there. “How did you even get it?”
The Duke simply laughed and took a swig of his drink. They continued to drink in silence till intoxication began to set in. Finally, they both decided they’d had enough and decided to retire to their bedrooms.
On their way out, just as they were about to go their separate ways, the Duke stopped Kenneth.
“I’m proud of you, son. And no one is going to harm you on this ground. I promise you,” his father declared.
“Thank you, Father,” he responded, believing every word from his father’s lips. He was safe and no one could harm him in the Duke’s manor.
They nodded and went in opposite directions, Kenneth to his bedroom and to sleep.
* * *
Kenneth woke up twice in the middle of the night when he thought he had heard noises in his bedroom.
After investigating on both occasions, he’d found out that there was no cause for alarm and he was in fact safe. He’d gone to bed and stayed asleep till morning.
Without Leonard to wake him up, he’d woken up very late.
He cleaned up by himself and went downstairs to have breakfast before ending up in the study.
Throughout breakfast and even now, his mind had drifted to and stayed on Rose.
Of course, she was safe in her father’s manor, but she was supposed to be headed to Lord Rockgonie’s in a bit for a planned meeting with him. A meeting he couldn’t very well attend now.
Since the anger of the lords was directed at him and not his friends, he didn’t think there would be an incident at Lord Rockgonie’s manor. Still, couldn’t stop worrying about Rose.
His father walked into the study and sat opposite him.
“I’m afraid I have bad news, son,” the Duke said, his facial expression sullen. “The news I’m getting is that the opposing lords didn’t just stop at the ruckus they created in parliament. They have gone ahead to publicly criticize your bill, resulting in full blown chaos in the streets of London.”
“Chaos? At me?” he asked in confusion.
“Yes, chaos. But not at you. In response to the rejection of your bill and the treatment you endured at the hands of your peers, the masses have risen up in protest.”
Kenneth was amazed at the news he was hearing.
“How did the masses know what happened yesterday?” he asked in wonder.
“I already told you, son. Bad news travels fast, coupled with the fact that the lords went on the offensive to start criticizing your bill.”
“You said it was bad news, though. How is it bad news that the masses are protesting?” he asked.
“Because the lords have turned round and started accusing you for starting the protest and rallying the masses as payback for the humiliation and rejection you suffered at parliament. They are blaming you for the protests, which are slowly turning violent. I am afraid this isn’t blowing over soon.”
Kenneth paused to have a moment with his thoughts. It was a definite possibility that the uprising had already been set in motion, an occurrence he had worked so hard to avert.
Obviously, hearing what had happened to him, the leaders of the uprising had decided to revert to their previous course of action.
But turning around to blame him for the protests as the Lords had done was even a new low for them.
“What do I do, Father?” Kenneth asked in exasperation. “How do I handle all this?”
As the Duke was about to respond, a servant walked in and announced that there were two constables there requesting to see Lord Walsrock.
“Did they state the reason for their business?” the Duke asked, even as Kenneth felt his pulse rising.
