Chapter 39

"Besides, we have a secret weapon," Astrid now smirked dangerously. "Dragons," Astrid thought back to that afternoon's discussion and pondered if she hadn't been too presumptuous. She currently sat in her room enjoying some Camomile tea that Atali had prepared along with a light dinner. She had opted out of dessert and just as she was placing her teacup down the double doors to her room burst open to admit her 'father'.

"How dare you make such an idiotic move!" Her father yelled as he approached her table near the large balcony windows before slamming his hands on it to rattle the teacup and saucers. "Have you any idea what you've done?!"

"Good evening to you as well father. What brings you here this fine evening?" Astrid asked in a bland tone as she looked at the man who was just bursting with anger.

"How dare you take that tone with me! Wasn't destroying your brother's engagement enough? Now you have to act all high and mighty?!" Spittle flew from Samuel's mouth and Astrid had to grimace.

"First of all father..." Astrid stressed the moniker. "I did no such thing. Lady O'fair left of her own free will." Astrid shot back. "Furthermore there was no engagement. Edwin stated that he would never marry Lady O'fair."

"That's a goddamn lie!" Samuel shouted. "That boy knows what he has to do for the good of this family, unlike other ungrateful brats!"

"While I am the Head of this family," Astrid stated as her eyes narrowed at the blatant disrespect "I will not persuade Edwin to get engaged to a Lady he does not like, especially since he is currently courting someone of his own volition."

"WHAT?! WHO?!" Samuel yelled as his brows shot up.

"Father I suggest you keep your voice down in my chambers." Astrid warned. "If you want to behave like an uncultured gnat in your own rooms so be it but I like my quiet surroundings."

"Un-Uncultured!" The man sputtered while Astrid took a sip of her now lukewarm tea.

"Do sit down," Astrid offered the chair opposite to her. "Frankly you saved me the trouble of summoning you to my office tomorrow. There is something we need to discuss."

"I have nothing to discuss with you," The other growled but did sit down. Astrid was miffed enough that she didn't offer him any tea.

"Are you going to tell me what Lady Edwin is courting?" Samuel asked, though now more calmly. It seemed he finally grasped that Astrid was not going to behave the way he wanted if he screamed at her.

"No," Astrid deadpanned. "My dear step-brother's social life is none of my business. What I wish to discuss with you is granting Edwin the title of Baron when he turns sixteen in a couple of months."

"Are you daft?! Why would I give up my title? Edwin will inherit it when I'm good and gone!" Samuel's fist clenched upon the table.

"It is either you step down gracefully or..." Astrid stood up and walked to her nightstand and retrieved a rather official-looking document. She then proceeded to hold it in front of her father. "...Or the authorities get involved and you will be meeting the hangman's noose."

"What is this?" Samuel grabbed the document out of his daughter's hand and scanned it. Astrid watched him turn as white as a specter as he kept reading.

"This... this...," He sputtered as the document fluttered onto the table. "This is some underhanded scheme of yours isn't it?! You want to be rid of me that badly!"

"The prospect of getting rid of you is appealing," Astrid retorted. "But this," She tapped her finger on the table where the official document was "is not my doing. It's ingenious though. I can't help but be happy at seeing you so utterly trapped."

"Does anyone else know?" Samuel growled as he glared at Astrid.

"Just me and a select few of my people," She smirked. "They managed to fish this document out of the mess that was Thuggory Nelson's office. It's a wonder you haven't heard." Astrid seemed rather gleeful. "The Knights working under the Magistrate searched Sir Nelson's estate yesterday and found quite some damning evidence. It seemed it was not just House Hofferson he was scamming. If people were to know that you did business with such a scoundrel, well... there be no saving your reputation, now will there,"

"But I've never seen this document before!" Samuel uttered as he stood up in anger causing the chair to scrape across the wooden floorboards. "This is your doing isn't it?!"

"How many times must I say that it was not my doing," Astrid sighed. Seriously, how dense could this man be. "Even if you argue that your signature was forged, the family emblem on your signet ring was used to seal the wax." Astrid pointed out. "It's your signet ring emblem on a very damning document," Astrid pointed out. "The same signet ring that you rarely take off safe for once you are in your rooms. Honestly, do I need to spell it out for you?" Astrid grumbled as her eyes narrowed at her father. The man was still... he looked at the ring on his finger and frowned, possibly deep in thought.

She stood up and leaned close to her father. A smirk was upon her lips as she whispered something to him, though he couldn't see it. The man that had neglected and put her down for years was crumbling before her. The surge for power she held over her father was addicting. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd be in this position. To one-up him, to make him tremble, to make him crumble as he realized his future hung in the hands of the daughter he discarded.

"What do you want?" The man finally ground out.

"I believe I already stated my demands," Astrid sat back down as if she had not just felt an euphoric surge of power. "Edwin takes over as the next Baron Anderson once he's of age and Esmeralda and yourself retire to one of the country homes, never to darken my doorstep again, or take your chance against the Magistrate. Fraudulent business practices, inheritance tampering, probate fraud are just the ones that I can think up off the top of my head. Imagine what will happen to your image once I ask the Magistrate to start an investigation."

After all was said and done Samuel marched angrily out of Astrid's chambers. She in turn sagged back down into her chair, mostly out of elation that she might be rid of some leeches soon and a bit out of incredulity at the whole situation. Her father might have been an arrogant opportunist of a bastard but he did have a head for business. That at least she was grateful for. When she took over the family coffers had suffered little. Astrid had known as soon as she saw the document Minden had managed to procure that it Samuel was going to be set up. As business savvy as he proclaimed himself to be he hadn't seen what was brewing right in front of him.

Astrid proceeded to ring for Atali, thinking she may as well head to bed early. The events of the afternoon finally catching up to her.

Samuel stormed down the many hallways back to the rooms he shared with his wife. The ornate double doors to his rooms slammed open as he stood in the doorway with a crazy look in his eyes. Esmeralda who was seated on the settee with her embroidery startled and looked towards the door.

"Samuel what on Earth?!" She asked holding a hand to her chest in fright. It was too late that she noted the dark and stormy look in his eyes for he soon stood over her and grabbed Esmeralda by her neck. She dropped her embroidery hoop and clutched at her neck as Samuel squeezed and lifted her up. Her fingers were making bloody scratches in his arms yet Samuel didn't let up. Instead he slammed her against the wall. Esmeralda's eyes widened as Samuel hissed "I know what you did you damn whore,"

"Sa-Samuel c-can't brea-" Esmeralda gasped out as she still clawed at her husband's arms. He finally let go of her neck. She slumped against the wall trying to catch her breath when he backhanded her, sending her towards the carpeted floor with her head barely missing the corner of the low wooden table.

"How dare you set me up!" Samuel shouted as he loomed over Esmeralda.

"I don-" Esmeralda started to say as she groggily backed away while holding her cheek.

"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Samuel shouted as he shook in anger. "Do you have any idea what you've done?! I saw the document!" Samuel took a step towards Esmeralda as she took a step back, hitting the wall once more.

"I saw the document..." He repeated as his eyes narrowed. "You made an agreement with Lord Nelson for the sale of diamonds under the table. Not only did you have the mines increase production but you had them falsely report to the crown that the production stayed the same so you could pocket the difference. Lord Nelson was your fence and you pocketed the money without me even realizing."

"It's not... I... I...," Esmeralda shook as Samuel confronted her.

"Save your breath," Samuel muttered as he glared at the woman. "You knew very well what you were doing," He stated. "You were of sound mind when you decided to use my signet ring to forge the contract. If anything ever went south then it would be my head on the chopping block while you play the poor clueless widow, right?" He leaned down and was now eye-level with Esmeralda "RIGHT?!" She shook in fright as she had never seen Samuel this angry.

Esmeralda said nothing for a moment as she stared up at her husband. "What did you truly expect?" She then asked catching the man by surprise. Esmeralda stood up with a bit of a wobble. She placed a hand on the wall and pulled herself up further before rounding on Samuel. "Poor Samuel, always the victim," She laughed mirthlessly at that statement. "The money was insurance for when you left me and my children destitute as the next pretty thing waltzed across your view."

"I would never!" Samuel tried to argue but Esmeralda merely lifted a brow.

"That's right, you would never. Like you did not seek out the bosom of another woman while married the first time," She sarcastically uttered. "Men don't change Samuel and I refuse to return to living in filth! I refuse to live in a hovel, barely scraping by by selling my body again! So yes, I used you but that's the pot calling the kettle black dear husband. You used me too!"

Samuel was gaping at Esmeralda as his wife smoothed out her hair that had flown out of her bun. She kept her back straight and walked past him but before she left the room she uttered "Can you really be this shocked by my machinations?" She questioned while holding a hand to the doorframe and looking back over her shoulder. "You bound yourself to your first wife for money and power. I bound myself to you for the exact same reason. If I'm a whore because of it then what does that make you?" With that she left Samuel in the now empty room. The man fell to his knees and for the first time in years cried.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Palace Lady O'fair slowly sipped her tea as she sat opposite the Crown Prince.

"My Lady, what brought you to my doors with nary a letter in advance," Grimmel asked as he observed the woman across from him.

"Prince Grimmel, our families go way back do they not?" Lady O'fair asked as she set her cup on the saucer she was holding with her other hand. "I am hoping you would extend your hospitality towards my person in return for some... information,"

"What sort of information could you possibly have that would interest me?" Grimmel asked.

"I have witnessed a devilish beast that breathes fire," Lady O'fair stated which immediately caused Grimmel to perk up and pay attention.

"Do tell me more Miss," Grimmel purred and even poured more tea for Lady O'fair himself. Perhaps his luck was looking up.