Page 4 of Legacy of Succession

“The difference is I do it with decorum and restraint. I don’t risk my male parts being posted all over social media with full commentary on how good I am in bed.”

“That was one time.” I stop and turn back to face him with my fists clenched.

“And it cost me a good million to silence the little bitch. We have a reputation to maintain, and you’re going to throw it all away.” My father stands up to my anger, but I’m so livid I’m not about to back down and act sensibly.

“No, we can’t damage your reputation as the leader of your little secret society, can we?”

“Jesus, Nicholas, will you grow up?”

“Why? What's the point?”

“Because by your next birthday, you’ll be married, the Duke of Oakfield, and the leader of my, ‘little secret society’, as you put it. This isn’t a bad thing I’m asking you to do. I’ve left you alone, to do as you please with your life, since you turned eighteen. That’s eleven years of fun. Do you not find it monotonous? All I’m asking is that you start to take on some responsibility.” My father lowers his voice from one full of disappointment and anguish to one I vaguely remember. The one that holds compassion and fondness in it. “You're my son, my heir. I want what’s best for you, and I know this is it.”

“But why this way?” I state.

“It’s the rules. Our forefathers signed the documents governing how we must prove that we’re worthy of the title. It’s not possible to change them.”

“It’s possible to change anything if you put your mind to it.”

“Not this, Nicholas. There’s too much at stake. Oakfield Hall for one.”

“This is our ancestors’ home since before the time of the society,” I protest. “They surely can’t take it.”

“It was written into the founding documents that all this can be taken from us. The money was needed when it fell into disrepair before your four times great-grandfather came into his inheritance. He was a brave man who was prepared to risk everything for the sake of protecting the name and estates. You can’t let him down.”

This founding document has been the bane of my life ever since I heard about it, for the first time, at the age of ten. That was when I found out how much my life was mapped out for me. My four times great grandfather needed funds to live. It was around the time that the cost of living went through the roof for the elite, and it became increasingly difficult for them to afford to run a stately home, like the one we now live in. It became even harder for them to pay their way at lavish court functions, which were a pre-requisite for those having a title such as Duke, whether it was a royal title or not. It was necessary to make an appearance, and if the King wanted money then it had to be given to him. Drugs, prostitution, high levels of alcohol consumption, it was all rife then. The elite had to be seen to be partaking. Along with some of the other title holders in the country, my ancestor formed a pact. They’d work together to be able to live the lifestyles they wanted, but in return they had to give up something. My ancestor was designated the leader as he was the highest ranked and also a close confidant of the King. It was decided that should he forfeit his position then Oakfield Hall and any other assets, owned by the Cavendish family, would be sold and distributed between the remaining members of the society. A pretty big forfeiture, considering that in addition he had no say on when or to whom he got married! Because every eldest son on his thirtieth birthday, going down in perpetuity, takes over the title and leadership of the society, on the proviso that he is married. I guess that the position means power and a casting vote in the way the organization’s run, but to me, it just takes away my free will.

“Nicholas!” my father shouts at me, and I realize that I’d disappeared into a dream world. “Are you listening to a word I’m saying?”

“Sorry, Your Grace.”

“You’ve been training for this your entire life. You’ve known it was coming. Think of the power you’ll wield, this time next year. You'll be responsible for the business behind the scenes.”

“I’m not entirely sure that’s something to be proud of.” I roll my eyes.

“It is if it keeps a roof over our heads.”

“Theft, murder, god knows what else.” My father’s face reddens as I speak, partly through anger, I think, but also through the embarrassment of knowing that he has the life he leads because of the hardship he puts others through. Actually, no, scrap that. It’s all anger because my father doesn’t think about anyone else but himself.

“I sometimes wonder what I did to raise such an ungrateful child. Hear me out, Nicholas, enough arguing. You'll shut that intolerable mouth of yours until you can learn to use it for something that’s actually important. You'll go to your quarters, and you’ll make yourself presentable rather than looking like you have just crawled off the street or out of a barrel of wine. If you don’t, you won’t like the consequences that I’ll be forced to bring down on you.” He’s seething. The whites of his eyes are showing as he stands face to face with me. My father’s a strong man. He may be sixty, but he keeps himself healthy. “The ladies are on their way, and you'll be ready to meet them. You'll show them what it means to be in Oakfield Hall, and you’ll embrace your birthright because if you don’t then I’ll make the decisions for you. I’ll make you sit back and watch, while I do your duty!”

My stomach turns — I wish I’d not drunk so much last night. I knew this was coming today, and I knew what I’d have to do. I don’t want to marry. I want to fuck my way around England, but my father’s right: I have a duty to my family name and my future. Last night was the end of my old life, and today is the first of my new one. I'll embrace the monster that I must become.

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