Chapter 26
Playing God
Dawn met both lovers at the gate to the Bexley estate. Arthur disregarded looks of befuddlement from the stewards at the gate and rode into the estate on the same horse with Rebecca in front of him. He stopped the horse in front of the house and leaned into Rebecca.
“I’ll be back,” he whispered through her hair into her ears.
“Don’t bother. She’s here,” Rebecca replied, staring forward towards the door.
Arthur raised his gaze to where Rebecca’s eyes laid and found it lying on his elder sister. She was still in her white sleeping gown. It was obvious she had woken up earlier and found out Arthur wasn’t in bed or in the house. Her face was fresh, though, like one freshly washed, and her hair had been properly brushed. She stood at the top of the stairwell and stared down at her brother. With arms akimbo, her face carried a look of naked irritation.
“What is this, Arthur?” she asked in her most berating tone.
Arthur though had come prepared. His sister wasn’t winning this battle. The rest of his life depended on it. Arthur turned back to look at Rebecca who sat on the horse, eyes set on his sister.
“I cannot take another episode of pain,” she had told him.
Arthur turned back to face his sister. Rebecca wasn’t even going to have to face another day of pain.
“What does it look like?” Arthur asked his sister.
She moved her head back like his words had hit her. She was surprised at his answer. Arthur looked back and saw Rebecca was staring up at the house. Arthur raised his gaze and saw his mother staring downwards from the verandah in his chamber. It didn’t matter that his mother was watching this. Arthur had his mind made up.
He called on the gardener who was pretending to diligently trim the hedges; meanwhile, he had been unable to stop glancing to the staircase.
“My Lord,” the young gardener said when he got to Arthur.
“Go and get me Victor. Tell him I need him here this instant,” Arthur said.
The young man ran up the stairs, past the staring Lady Teresa and into the house. Lady Teresa seemed to have overcome her shock and started to speak again.
“What are you doing, Arthur? This is why I have always stated that you are not fit to be the Earl. You steal out of your house late in the night to be with – Lady Teresa paused to eye Rebecca before she continued, “Your mistress.”
Arthur smiled painfully. His sister was just digging a deeper grave to lie in.
“And then you have the temerity, the lack of shame and disregard for your position to come home with her,” Lady Teresa said.
She was coming down the stairs as she spoke, one step after another. She was saying all this as loudly as possible in front of the estate, and Arthur could see eyes start to stare.
Almost, you are almost there, Teresa. Just attract a bit more audience.
Lady Teresa seemed to revel in the embarrassment she was causing Arthur. She smiled wickedly as she got down and in front of his horse. Arthur looked around and decided enough of their house staff was watching now.
“Teresa, there is something you do not understand,” Arthur said.
Lady Teresa chuckled.
“There’s nothing you know that I don’t, Arthur. You are just privileged because you came with an appendage between your lower limbs,” Lady Teresa said.
Arthur sucked his teeth in and closed his eyes.
I will not lose my head.
Arthur saw Mr Victor come out of the house and start down the stairs.
Yes, it is time.
“I’ll tell you what you don’t know. And it is that despite how you love to play God, there is only one god in Derby,” Arthur said.
Lady Teresa’s eyes jumped as she realised what her brother was saying. Arthur’s voice rose several octaves such that it could surely be heard at the gate.
“And that god is me, Lord Bexley, the Early of Derby. And of this moment you are banished from the Bexley estate and from the rest of the county.”
Arthur heard several gasps. Mr Victor’s eyelids narrowed. Nobody was expecting what Arthur said.
“You can’t do this. You cannot throw away your sister because of a mere adulteress,” Lady Teresa said, eyeing Rebecca as she spoke. Her voice was loud and high pitched, close to hysterical.
“I can, Teresa. And it is because of such undying nature in you that I have. But I am not casting you away, no; I would never do that. We have estates in neighbouring counties. I would advise that you go to Devon beside us and take charge of the estate there. The finances there are a real mess, and your great intellect would be needed there,” Arthur declared.
“You don’t know what you are doing. Who would provide you with advice?” Lady Teresa said.
Arthur laughed.
“You forget that I have a right hand man,” Arthur said, looking over her shoulder to Mr Victor.
“Go to our estate in Devon and meddle in its affairs as much as you can. Your meddling will no more be tolerated. Thank you for all you have done,” Arthur said.
Arthur helped Rebecca down and stared up. His mother still looked down, but her face was sad, and her eyes heavy with unshed tears. She nodded to Arthur. Arthur held Rebecca and was about to walk past his sister when she grabbed his hand.
“Arthur, please,” she said in a pleading tone.
Arthur snatched his hand away. He had given her enough chances. He walked to Mr Victor.
“Make sure she’s out of the estate and county before the sun sinks this evening,” Arthur said loudly enough that his sister heard.
Mr Victor nodded. Arthur took Rebecca and led her into the house, their house.