Page 17 of Legacy of Succession

CHAPTER TEN

NICHOLAS

“Can I get you anything else, Sir?” Reggie pours my second cup of coffee while I finish off the bacon with a poached egg that I always have for my breakfast.

“No, thank you — I’m full.” We have the same exchange every morning. I sometimes think I should ask him for an apple just to alter the monotony of the conversation. “Are any of the girls awake?”

“I believe Miss Sandford has called for breakfast in her room today. She’s apparently suffering from that ‘time of her month’ and needs to rest. Miss Amelia has been for a swim and is eating a croissant in the ladies’ dining room.”

“What about Miss Hamilton?”

“Miss Hamilton has been confined to her room.”

“On whose orders?” I place my knife and fork down and look up at him.

“Mine, Sir. She was up early and looking for ways to leave Oakfield Hall. I’m afraid the guards found it rather tiresome after the third escape attempt, so I ordered her to be taken back to her room.”

I shake my head and laugh.

“That woman will be the death of me.”

“I have a feeling she may be the death of a lot of people before you make your decision,” Reggie replies with a shake of his own head.

“Does she have any reading material left in her room?” I ask.

“You’ve not given me orders to have it returned yet.”

“No, I haven’t. I tell you what. Have one of the guards escort her to the pool. In her manifesto, it said that she likes to swim one hundred lengths a day. Have them tell her that if she swims that amount, then she’ll be rewarded with the return of her books. If she defies, or tries to escape again, then all the furniture will be removed from her room. Hopefully doing something energetic will tire her out a little and placate her.”

Reggie motions to look out the window.

“What?”

“I thought that I saw a flying pig, Sir.”

“She does provoke that reaction.” I push my chair back and go to stand, but I am interrupted by my father’s gruff voice from the doorway.

“Who does?”

Reggie looks at me.

“Miss Hamilton.” I reluctantly concede, knowing that there’s no point in lying to him.

“What has she done now?” He stomps over to his seat at the head of our small family dining table and sits down. Reggie steps forward and pours him coffee. My father doesn't say thank you.

“Nothing of concern, Your Grace. It’s been dealt with.” I finally get to my feet and bow to my father with the intention of taking my leave. He doesn’t let me go, though.

“Why you had to choose her to continue on, I’ll never know.”

“She is different from the other girls. I don’t know what I want in a wife, yet. I chose the girls that all offer me something unique in the hopes that I make the right decision for the society,” I offer in reply.

“She deserves to be tied to a bed and fucked raw.”

“If I choose her to be my wife, then I’ll make sure I do that.”

My father takes a long sip of his coffee.

“She spoiled my fun last night. Having one of the girls was my right, and you left me with one who just lay there and took it. She didn’t even scream once.”

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