Mad Dog

Chapter 4 - For the Family

Silence echoed throughout the room. The Counts mother kneeled on the hard wood floor, feeling it dig into her knees painfully. She nervously stole a glance up at her son, who stood a little in the shadows at a distance. It had been a while since she felt this on edge. She wished he'd turn around. The sight of his broad menacing back made a neverous sweat drip down the back of her neck.

However, she regretted it immediately when he turned to her, and she saw his cold glare. She immediately lowered her eyes to the floor. Rohan stared hard into the back of his mother's head for a long moment, letting the uncomfortable silence stretch between them before finally saying.

"Good day, Mother."

"G-Good day, Count Rohan." She stammered.

"How is everything?" He asked with a tone that seemed almost caring. "Are you comfortable?"

She rung her hands nervously, "O-Oh yes. I'm very comfortable."

He turned around and walked to his desk. Taking a seat at it, he almost lounges back like a jaguar eying its toy.

"Really?" He pulled out an encrusted dagger, her dagger, and started twirling it lazily in his fingers.

"How strange. I thought you were in need of more money since you were embezzling my wives."

The countess felt Iike the air had gotten sucked out of the room. She trembled. To afraid to move a muscle.

"If you needed money, " he went on, "all you had to do was ask, or was there a reason that I shouldn't know what you are buying?"

She quaked harder, tiny shakes reverberating through her whole body. He knew. Seeing no other option, she threw herself on the floor in front of his desk.

"I'm so sorry!" She said, sobbing."I was just too afraid to tell you I wanted a few extra gifts, and your wife was kind enough to give me the money. I won't ask her for anymore, I promise. "

Rohan stared coldly down at her but made no move to have her get up. Instead, he took his feet off the desk and leaned forward, making sure his mother could really hear him. But then he suddenly smiled, laughing even.

"Of course, mother! Wanting to elevate the family is never a crime. Which is what I assume you were also thinking when you went to Baroness Kerr tea party?"

Trying to choose her words wisely, but before she could Rohan stood up and walked around till he stood in front of her, "It must have been a coincidence that Baron himself finally graced the manor with his presence after so many month away."

She couldn't breathe afraid to even make a sound in case he uttered what she knew he knew. He squated next to her, staring for a minute, watching her process. Then, taking his hand, he clapped it to her shoulder, making her jump, and he smiled.

"Come on. There's no need to be nervous. After all, you've done nothing wrong, right?"

He stood back up and sat on the desk. "You only ever think of the family, which is why I'm informing you that my wife will be going out more often. As she is going out, she will need to be dressed in a manner fitting of a Countess."

He sighed "Sadly it looks as if she won't have enough to cover that kind of expense. We can't have her going out and ruining the family image now, can we?"

The Counts' mother swallowed hard as if the next words were to come out stuck on the way out.

"I'd gladly cover the costs."

"Of course! I should have asked you first someone so -"

He pauses thinking.

"Loyal."

He says at last, smirking as if he'd told a joke. Suddenly jumping up, he helps his mother to her feet while shouting, "My gosh, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot you were on your knees. Please, you must go and rest. Your growing age is always in the back of my mind."

With that, he guided his shocked and panic stricken mother out the door, his aid slamming it behind her. It looked like I was going to be seeing my wife more often. He thought back to her actions lately.

'I'm sure she'll love that.'